Spanish women among top Laureus winners and Djokovic is world sportsman of the year

MADRID: Spain's first Women's World Cup triumph last year earned two more major plaudits at the Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday. Spain was chosen world team of the year for 2023 and midfielder Aitana Bonmat was picked as the best sportswoman. Novak Djokovic received the sportsman of the year at the ceremony in Madrid, and American gymnast Simone Biles was given the comeback of the year award. Real Madrid forward Jude Bellingham earned the breakthrough prize, and Rafael Nadal won the sport for good award thanks to his foundation. The Spanish women's World Cup breakthrough last August in New Zealand and Australia was tarnished in the following weeks because of an unwanted kiss of forward Jenni Hermoso by then-federation president Luis Rubiales after the final. Laureus rewarded Spain as the first all-female team to win the team award. Before the World Cup, Bonmat also helped Barcelona win a second Women's Champions League. She's the first female soccer player to win the Laureus, after also receiving the Ballon d'Or and FIFA best player award. I want to thank all my teammates and the staff of my club and national team who have helped me a lot, and because of them I am here today, Bonmati said. Djokovic won his record-equalling fifth Laureus sportsman award tying Roger Federer after titles at the Australian Open, French Open and U.S. Open to reach a record 24 Grand Slam singles triumphs. NFL great Tom Brady presented Djokovic the award. Biles made a record-breaking return to competition last year when she won four gold medals at the world championships, including a record sixth all-around title. Nadal's foundation was rewarded for helping more than 1,000 vulnerable young people in Spain and India, according to Laureus. Teenager Arisa Trew won the action sportsperson award after becoming the first female skateboarder to land a 720 in competition. Dutch wheelchair player Diede de Groot was selected as the sportsperson of the year with a disability after winning her third straight calendar tennis Grand Slam.

Yuki Bhambri and Albano Olivetti triumph in Munich

Djokovic skips Madrid Open, Nadal to face teen Blanch

MADRID: World number one and record 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will not play at the Madrid Open this week. Media reports said the 36-year-old Serbian star had pulled out of the tournament and he was not included in the draw on Monday. The 36-year-old is yet to win a title this season and has only played in four tournaments this year, having decided to lighten his schedule. Veteran tennis great Rafael Nadal will continue his comeback from injury in Madrid and has been pitted against 16-year-old American Darwin Blanch in the first round. Djokovic has now pulled out of the Madrid Open three times in four years. The Serbian could still appear in Rome at the Italian Open before defending his French Open title from May 26. Djokovic is a three-time champion at the two-week clay court event in the Spanish capital. It is his second Masters 1000 withdrawal this year after skipping the Miami Open in March. Djokovic attended Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday and is expected to appear at the Laureus Awards in Madrid on Monday, where he is in contention to win the Sportsman of the Year trophy. Veteran tennis great Nadal, 37, played at the Barcelona Open but was defeated in the second round by Alex de Minaur in straight sets. If he defeats teenager Blanch then he will face Australian world number 11 De Minaur in the second round for the second week in a row. Reigning champion and second seed Carlos Alcaraz said he was hoping to be fully fit to play in Madrid after a forearm problem and will face either Alexander Shevchenko or Arthur Rinderknech in the second round. Jannik Sinner, second in the world rankings and top seed in Djokovic's absence, will face either Italian compatriot Lorenzo Sonego or a qualifier in the second round.

Casper Ruud beats Stefanos Tsitsipas to win Barcelona Open for biggest career title

BARCELONA, Spain: Casper Ruud took his revenge against Stefanos Tsitsipas by winning the Barcelona Open final in straight sets on Sunday for his biggest career title, a week after losing to the Greek in theMonte Carlo Masters final. Ruud won 7-5, 6-3 for his first title of the season after losing the three other finals he played this year. Honestly, this has been worth the wait, Ruud said after the triumph in Barcelona. A lot of finals that Ive lost have been tough, a bit disappointing, of course. Any time you reach a final, its nonetheless a good week, so you cant be too hard on yourself, but this one has been a long time coming. Seventh-ranked Tsitsipas had comfortably won in straight sets in Monte Carlo but this time Ruud prevailed, converting three of the six break points he earned. Im super happy to do it here in Barcelona in front of a packed stadium and on Rafa Nadal Court, the sixth-ranked Ruud said. Its special to me because I looked up to him (Nadal) all my childhood, came here myself as a 13-year-old boy to watch him and the others play here. Its a great feeling. Ruud and Tsitsipas reach Barcelona semis, one step away from another title clash Ruud is eyeing next months French Open after finishing runner-up at Roland Garros last year, one of three Grand Slam finals he has lost. The 25-year-old Norwegian snapped a 10-match winning streak for Tsitsipas, who was 10-0 on clay this season and was seeking his 12th career title. Tsitsipas had lost all three of his previous Barcelona finals in 2018, 2021 and 2023. It was the 11th career title for Ruud, and the 10th on clay. His last title had been in Estoril in April 2023.

Ruud and Tsitsipas reach Barcelona semis, one step away from another title clash

BARCELONA, Spain: Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas won to advance to the Barcelona Open semifinals on Friday, keeping them on course to meet in a second straight final. Ruud beat Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-3 to notch his season-leading 27th win. The sixth-ranked Norwegian has two more wins than Jannik Sinner. Tsitsipas saved two match points to rally past Facundo Daz 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (8). Tsitispas struggled with his serve and double-faulted seven times. One of them cost him a break while the Greek player was trying to serve out the match up 5-4 in the third set. He then had to save a match point while serving again before facing the brink again in the tiebreaker. I feel like having so many matches under my belt and faced situations like this helps for sure, Tsitsipas said. I knew anything was possible at any given time. The seventh-ranked Tsitsipas easily defeated Ruud to claim his third title at Monte Carlo last weekend . Ruud is trying to reach his fourth final this year. Besides the loss in Monte Carlo, he also lost finals in Los Cabos and Acapulco. Ruud will face Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Saturday after the Argentine defeated Cameron Norrie 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1). Ruud got the better of Martin Etcheverry in their only previous meeting last year, when he had to rally from a set down in Beijing. It is going to be another difficult match, Ruud said. Next up for Tsitsipas is Dusan Lajovic after he beat 19-year-old Arthur Fils 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament before it started because of an injury, while second-seeded Andrey Rublev lost in the second round. Rafael Nadal, a 12-time champion in Barcelona, made his return to the courts for the first time since January on Tuesday, only to lose the next day.