Novak Djokovic was recently crowned the 2023 Men's Champion of Champions by French publication L'Equipe.
The renowned daily sports newspaper presents four awards each year: the best female and male international sports athletes and the best French and male French sports athletes.
This special podium has been dominated by men's tennis players in the past, with the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal winning it on multiple occasions. Former World No. 1 Andre Agassi became the first tennis player to win it back in 1999.
Djokovic, one of the world's greatest tennis players, has scooped the award for the best male international sports athlete for a second time thanks to a superb 2023 season in which he won seven singles titles and scored a season-high of 17 Top 10 wins.
For context, the women's category of the same award was won by American gymnast Simone Biles. Three of Djokovic's seven trophies were won at Grand Slam level, making him the first man to win at least three majors in a season on four occasions (2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023).
The Serbian legend also outlasted Carlos Alcaraz, 16 years his junior, to finish the year as World No. 1 for a record eighth time. Successes in Cincinnati and Paris-Bercy took Djokovic into unchartered territory, becoming the first man to win 40 Masters titles.
Djokovic has been recognized for his efforts on a wider scale. He was recently named the European Sportsperson of the Year for a fifth time and made history when he was crowned ITF World Champion for a record-extending eighth time.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion is not stopping at 36 and plans to play at the top level for a few more years. Djokovic has kicked his 2024 preparations with practice sessions in the Middle East. He recently played an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Saudi Arabia, which the young Spaniard won in three sets.
0 Comments