Djokovic, Dibaba crowned Laureus awards in Shanghai

(Agencies) Updated: 2015-04-16 10:04

Oliver Bierhoff, team manager of the German National Football Team, accepts the Team of the Year Award on behalf of the German National Football Team as he poses for photographs at the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards, in Shanghai, April 15, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

SHANGHAI - Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic won the sportsman of the year prize at the Laureus Sports Awards on Wednesday, while Germany's World Cup-winning squad received the best team award.

Djokovic defeated Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final to win his seventh Grand Slam title and supplant Rafael Nadal as No 1 in the world.

"In general, it probably has been my best year so far in my life," Djokovic, who also won in 2012, said in a video message.

The Serbian star also reached the French Open final, losing to Nadal, and won seven titles en route to posting a 61-8 match record for the year. He has spent 142 weeks as the top-ranked men's player, passing Nadal this week to move into sixth place on the all-time list.

He was picked for the Laureus Award over Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, golfer Rory McIlroy, soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, motorcyclist Marc Marquez and pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie.

Germany routed host Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals of the World Cup before Mario Goetze scored the game-winning goal in extra time to beat Argentina 1-0 for the team's fourth title and first in 24 years.

"It's incredible how this fourth star was such a symbol for our fans in Germany. Everyone was dreaming about this fourth star," said Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff, who accepted the award.

The other nominees for the team award were Mercedes' Formula One team, the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, the Davis Cup-winning Switzerland team, the European Ryder Cup team, and Champions League winner Real Madrid.

Novak Djokovic poses for a champion's portrait with the Butch Buchholz Trophy after his match against Any Murray (not pictured) in the men's singles final on day fourteen of the Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center, in Key Biscayne, Florida, on April 5, 2015. Djokovic won 7-6 (3), 4-6 6-0. [Photo/Agencies]