Djokovic and Osaka win Laureus awards

Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka were rewarded for their achievements in 2018 at the Laureus Awards in Monaco on Monday.

Djokovic was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for the fourth time after winning Wimbledon and the US Open, and regaining the world No.1 ranking.

Osaka won the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award for her victory at the US Open.

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Both players have since gone on to win back-to-back Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open, while Osaka has also risen to the top of the WTA rankings.

Want to hear from the #Laureus19 Breakthrough of the Year!?

Here's @Naomi_Osaka_ ???? pic.twitter.com/FwQuwNzWjQ

— #Laureus19 (@LaureusSport) February 18, 2019

Djokovic has now won three Grand Slam titles in a row, having gone two years without adding to his tally following injury and a loss of form.

“I did think about leaving tennis,” Djokovic said at the ceremony.

“I did not find myself in a good balance. It took me several months to find that purpose and meaning again. This award reflects and symbolises this journey.”

Speaking via video message, Osaka said: “I want to give a huge thank you to the Laureus Academy for giving me the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year award.

“I want to thank my coaching staff and my family for being with me for these entire years.”

It was fitting that we gave the last words of #Laureus19 to an athlete who epitomises so much of what we admire in our sporting heroes.

What a speech @DjokerNole… pic.twitter.com/kQpZm5RK1M

— #Laureus19 (@LaureusSport) February 18, 2019