Novak Djokovic named Laureus Sportsman of Year

(Novak Djokovic)

World tennis number one Novak Djokovic said it was difficult to describe the "spectacular feeling" after he was named World Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus awards in London, the sporting equivalent of the Oscars.

He beat off competition from world footballer of the year Lionel Messi, Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, former two-time winner Usain Bolt, NBA star Dirk Nowitzki and F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel.

The top-ranked Djokovic won sportsman of the year at the ceremony in London, one week after the Serbian triumphed at the Australian Open to become the fifth man in the Open Era to win three Grand Slam titles in a row. He's already targeting a fourth at the French Open in Paris in June.

Paying tribute to the support he had received, the tennis star said, "It's very difficult to describe how much my family, my team, my country and all the people who have been supporting me mean to me."

Barcelona was recognized as the best team after a stellar 2011 in which Pep Guardiola's players won the Spanish league and Champions League.

Kenyan distance runner Vivian Cheruiyot, who won the 5,000- and 10,000-meter titles at the world championships last year, took the sportswoman's award.

Darren Clarke was honored with the comeback of the year award. The 43-year-old Northern Irishman won his first golf major by capturing the British Open at Royal St. George's last year.

Compatriot Rory McIlroy won the breakthrough of the year award for the 22-year-old's eight-shot win at the U.S. Open at Congressional, becoming the second-youngest player to win a major since 1934.

Bobby Charlton, legend of English football, won the lifetime achievement award.

Double amputee Oscar Pistorius won the disability award. The South African 400-meter specialist won a silver medal in the relay at the able-bodied world championships last year in Daegu, South Korea.

The winners were chosen by 47 sports stars who make up the Laureus sports academy.

The Laureaus World Sports Awards, which recognize sporting achievement during 2011, were announced at the Awards Ceremony at Central Hall, Westminster, which was hosted by Academy Award nominated and Golden Globe winner Clive Owen and attended by guests from the worlds of sport and entertainment.