Novak Djokovic, Halep, Kerber, Osaka headline 2019 Laureus nominations

and headline the 2019 Laureus Sports Awards nominations. The Serbian player is one of the six guys chosen for the sportsman of the year nominees, alongside the Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, who won his fifth Championship title last year, the NBA star LeBron James, the athletics competitor Eliud Kipchoge, the football star Kylian Mbapp, who won the football World Cup and the World Cup finalist Luka Modric.

Djokovic had a stunning second half of the season, winning two Grand Slam titles, Wimbledon and US Open, and getting back to the top first ranking spot. The Serb was the Laureus Sportsman of the year in 2016, 2015, 2012. Halep and Kerber are on course for the sportswoman of the year award.

But they are facing a strong competition made up of the gymnastics legend Simone Biles, skier/snowboarder Ester Ledecka, ironman thriatlon ace Daniela Ryf and skier Michaela Shiffrin. Halep won her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2018 French Open, while Kerber won her third Major at Wimbledon defeating Serena Williams in the final.

Naomi Osaka is one of the six chosen for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year. In 2018 the Japanese won the US Open title defeating Serena Williams in a controversial final, showing her cool in key moments despite there was a very tense environment as the American argued with the umpire Carlos Ramos.

Ana Carrasco, Sofia Goggia, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Geraint Thomas and Briana Williams will be Osakas rivals The results will be announced on Tuesday February 18 in Monte Carlo. Last year Roger Federer won Sportsman and Comeback of the Year award, getting to six Laureus in total.

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