World No 1 tennis player Novak Djokovic was crowned the world sportsman of the year at the Laureus Awards in London.
He has won the Australian Open this year and ended the season with a 70-6 winning record.
Former champion Pete Sampras described Djokovic's season as "the best I have seen in my lifetime,” news.com.au reports.
Djokovic succeeds his Australian Open final opponent Rafael Nadal as sportsman of the year, while Roger Federer won the title four times between 2005 and 2008.
Meanwhile, Kenyan distance runner Vivian Cheruiyat was chosen as the world sportswoman of the year.
Cheruiyat won three world titles this year on both track and trail (5000m, 10,000m and cross country).
English football legend Bobby Charlton was honoured with a lifetime achievement award.
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