Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have been declared as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Champions in the men’s and women’s category respectively for 2015.
This is Djokovic’s fifth title in a row while Williams has won it for the fourth consecutive year; it is her sixth title overall. Having yet another marquee season, each player won three of the four Grand Slams in 2015.
While the Serbian won the Australian Open, the Wimbledon, and the US Open, losing only to Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final, Williams clinched the first three Grand Slams of the year, before a shock exit in the US Open semi-final, losing to World No. 43 Roberta Vinci of Italy.
The men’s world No. 1 has a win-loss record of 82-6 in 2015 and has collected 11 ATP tour singles titles this year, while his women’s counterpart arrived for the US Open in New York riding high on four consecutive Grand Slam titles, but missed out on a calendar Grand Slam.
The American, who suffered just six defeats while collecting five titles this year told Sky Sports “It means a lot to me to be named the ITF world champion for the sixth time. I am proud to have achieved my second Serena Slam, in what has been an amazing year for me.”
“Thank you for this recognition and for the undying support of the tennis community."
Williams has held on to her No. 1 ranking despite not having played a competitive match since her defeat in the US Open to Italian Vinci, who lost to her compatriot and friend Flavia Pennetta. Pennetta has since announced her retirement from competitive tennis.
The ITF has been giving away these awards since 1978, with Williams, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf the three most successful women so far having won it 6, 6, and 7 times respectively.
Pete Sampras is the leader in the men’s category having won the title six times, followed by Djokovic and Roger Federer who are now tied at five titles each.
The Indo-Swiss pair of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis who have run riot this year in the women’s doubles category have been named the women’s doubles world champions while Jean-Julien Roger of Netherlands and Horia Tecau of Romania have been named as the men’s doubles world champions.
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