23-12-2010, 03:45 PM
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal won the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award in Birmingham, England, on Sunday night.
"For me it's an honour, thank you very much to the BBC for giving me this award," 24-year-old Nadal told BBC television in a pre-recorded video message. "It's just a dream being in the list of great champions to receive this award."
In 2010, the Spaniard won three Grand Slam championship titles at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open to become only the seventh man in tennis history to complete the set of all four majors. He also lifted three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies in Monte-Carlo, Rome and Madrid.
His rival, Federer, praised Nadal, saying: "I think what Rafa has done at such a young age, so consistently, is quite phenomenal really and he's the best player by far in 2010."
Novak Djokovic, who was beaten by Nadal in the US Open final in September, added: "What's amazing about him is his mental ability to play continuously, each year better and better. He's actually improving. He's a real example of a tennis champion."
Other tennis stars to have won the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award include Rod Laver (1969), Arthur Ashe (1975), Bjorn Borg (1979), Jimmy Connors (1982), Boris Becker (1985), Andre Agassi (1992), Goran Ivanisevic (2001) and Federer (2004, 2006-07).
On 15 December, the Spanish tennis journalists association, the 'Asociación de Periodistas de Tenis (APT)', presented Nadal with their top award at a gala ceremony in the Heredad Segura Viudas.
Nicolas Almagro was awarded the most improved player award for two ATP World Tour titles this year and a year-end South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking of No. 15.
"For me it's an honour, thank you very much to the BBC for giving me this award," 24-year-old Nadal told BBC television in a pre-recorded video message. "It's just a dream being in the list of great champions to receive this award."
In 2010, the Spaniard won three Grand Slam championship titles at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open to become only the seventh man in tennis history to complete the set of all four majors. He also lifted three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies in Monte-Carlo, Rome and Madrid.
His rival, Federer, praised Nadal, saying: "I think what Rafa has done at such a young age, so consistently, is quite phenomenal really and he's the best player by far in 2010."
Novak Djokovic, who was beaten by Nadal in the US Open final in September, added: "What's amazing about him is his mental ability to play continuously, each year better and better. He's actually improving. He's a real example of a tennis champion."
Other tennis stars to have won the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year award include Rod Laver (1969), Arthur Ashe (1975), Bjorn Borg (1979), Jimmy Connors (1982), Boris Becker (1985), Andre Agassi (1992), Goran Ivanisevic (2001) and Federer (2004, 2006-07).
On 15 December, the Spanish tennis journalists association, the 'Asociación de Periodistas de Tenis (APT)', presented Nadal with their top award at a gala ceremony in the Heredad Segura Viudas.
Nicolas Almagro was awarded the most improved player award for two ATP World Tour titles this year and a year-end South African Airways 2010 ATP Ranking of No. 15.
Zelfs hier lukt het je nog niet om top 10 te eindigen...