BERLIN, April 19, 2016

When it comes to the annual Laureus Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Award ceremony, there were not many alternatives to tennis players in recent years. 2016 was no exception.

World number one players Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were the winners in Berlin on Monday evening. In a ceremony hosted by the US-American-actor Bill Murray, the 28-year-old Serbian beat the Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi, sprinter Usain Bolt and Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton among others for the top men’s award.

Williams outclassed footballer Carli Lloyd and Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Both players dominated the sport in 2015 by each winning three of the four Grand Slam titles. The 34-year-old US-American was awarded for the third time after 2003 and 2010.

Djokovic received the honour for the third time as well after 2012 and 2015 and attended the event in the German capital. Roger Federer was Sportsman of the year from 2005 to 2008, Rafael Nadal in 2011.