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| February 28, 2007 | Wednesday | Safar 10, 1428 |
Woods, Federer lead Laureus awards’ nominations
LONDON, Feb 27: Roger Federer and Tiger Woods lead the nominations for the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.
Other contenders announced on Tuesday were Italy's World Cup-winning soccer captain Fabio Cannavaro, Formula One champion Fernando Alonso, Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell and retired F1 star Michael Schumacher.
Federer, who has won the Laureus award the past two years, broke Jimmy Connors' record on Monday with his 161st successive week at the top of the ATP rankings.
The Swiss player won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open last year. He opened 2007 by winning the Australian Open for his 10th Grand Slam title.
Woods, a previous two-time Laureus winner, won the British Open and PGA Championship last year to bring his total of major titles to 12.
Three tennis players were nominated for the World Sportswoman of the Year prize: French Open champion Justine Henin, Wimbledon winner Amelie Mauresmo and US Open champion Maria Sharapova.
The other women nominees were Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, Swedish heptathlete Carolina Kluft and French swimmer Laure Manaudou.
The nominees were chosen by international sports journalists. The winners will be selected by members of the Laureus Sports Academy and announced in Barcelona, Spain, on April 2.The Italian soccer team, New Zealand's All Blacks rugby squad and Europe's winning Ryder Cup team were among the contenders for World Team of The Year.
American 200-metre runner Xavier Carter and British race driver Lewis Hamilton, who will become the first black driver in Formula One this season, were among the nominees for the World Breakthrough of The Year Award.
Comeback of The Year nominees include New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, Australian Open winner Serena Williams, golfer Ben Curtis, the Miami Heat and former French soccer wizard Zinedine Zidane. –AP
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