"How are you going to deny the man who won 3 Slams in a row and was 1 away from Calendar Slam"- Tennis fans on Novak Djokovic being denied Laureus Sportsman Award

Novak Djokovic had one of the best ever seasons by an ATP player in 2021, falling one match short of winning the Calendar Slam. After winning the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, the World No. 1 fell to Daniil Medvedev in the final of the US Open.

The Serb was also in line to win Olympic gold, but lost in the semifinals to eventual winner Alexander Zverev. But despite all these achievements, the 20-time Grand Slam champion did not win the 2022 Laureus Sportsman of the Year Award.

The honor went to 2021 Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen. The Dutchman beat out five-time defending champion Lewis Hamilton in the final race of the season in controversial fashion, becoming the fourth youngest champion in the sport's history.

Alongside Verstappen and Novak Djokovic, NFL superstar Tom Brady, footballer Robert Lewandowski, swimmer Caeleb Dressel and athlete Eliud Kipchoge were all nominated but could not beat the 24-year-old racer.

While F1 fans were more than happy about the Red Bull driver taking home the prize, tennis fans were decidedly not. Many took to social media to express their displeasure at the decision, remarking that the World No. 1 ought to have been the rightful winner, given how close he came to making history.

"With all due respect to Max [Verstappen], what he’s achieved is incredible but how are you going to deny the man who won 3 Slams in a row and was one win away from sealing the Calendar year Slam + broke the record for most weeks at #1 …? You lot are embarrassing," one fan lamented.

"Novak Djokovic winning 27/28 matches, Winning 3 Slams, Reaching Final in the 4th, Losing ok in SF in Olympics in one of his best Tennis season is not enough to win Laureus World Sportsman of the year Award. Individual sport>> Team sport," another fan posted.

"Unpopular opinion maybe but I think Novak [Djokovic] should’ve won that sportsman of the year award. To me at least, winning 3 slams and reaching the final in the 4th is a more impressive achievement," one account wrote.

Many were of the opinion that the World No. 1's achievements in an individual sport like tennis should have counted for more than Verstappen winning in a team sport. Another opinion doing the rounds on social media was that the Serb was denied the award due to "political pressure," possibly referring to his tarnished public image as an openly unvaccinated athlete.

"How Novak [Djokovic] didn't win LAUREUS world sportsman of the year for his achievement in 2021 but Nadal won for his achievement in 2020 can never be explained by anyone. Also shows if you side with establishment you get to collect your coins," one user tweeted.

"To declare the best athlete of the year someone who won suspiciously, and at the same time ignore the athlete who won 3 GS in a row and reached the finals of the 4th GS due to political pressure..." another account wrote.

Novak Djokovic is the tennis player with the second-most Lauerus Sportsman awards, trails Roger Federer

Novak Djokovic has won the Laureus Sportsman Award on four occasions till date

Novak Djokovic might have missed out on winning the award this year, but he is still the tennis player with the second-most Laureus trophies to his name. The 34-year-old has won the award four times till date, taking home the prize in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019.

Only Roger Federer has more wins among his colleagues, with the Swiss winning the award four times in a row between 2005 and 2008 and most recently in 2018. Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, has been bestowed with the honor twice till date, in 2011 and 2021.