The nominees for the 2023 ATP Awards across categories were recently announced. Fans were furious after Novak Djokovic did not appear among the choices for The Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award. They slammed the players who were nominated instead of the Serb, with Carlos Alcaraz bearing the brunt of the attacks.
Every year, players vote to pick winners for the ATP Awards in four categories. The Comeback Player of the Year, the Newcomer of the Year, and the Most Improved Player of the Year are the three prizes apart from the aforementioned Sportsmanship Award. In addition to Alcaraz, the contenders for the latter award are Grigor Dimitrov, Hubert Hurkacz, and Jannik Sinner.
Fans fumed at the ATP for not nominating Djokovic in the sportsmanship category. One fan said the repeated omission feels targeted now while another posted images of the World No.1 being a good sport.
Actions speak louder than awards.#NovakSportsmanship #Djokovic #NoleFam pic.twitter.com/0FDhw9Nj5r
— Novak Goat 2⃣4⃣ (@novak_goat) November 29, 2023
Novak didn’t get the Sportsmanship Award nomination once again? feels like a targeted omission at this point
— Rush (@drivevolleys) November 29, 2023
A user also hinted at the PTPA activities while another mentioned his charity work.
He does a lot more to help his fellow tennis players. Should get the award
— Marsha Leinberger (@MarshaLeinberg1) November 30, 2023
Even non Djokovic fans are baffled as to why ATP Tennis media wouldn’t even nominate Djokovic for this award when they know how gracious and eloquent he is to all of them and to every single player he plays regardless if he wins or loses.
Not to mention all his charity work too. https://t.co/0k6C8Jm4Ou
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) November 30, 2023
Exactly. It’s not the players fault, just the blatant double standards and hypocrisy.
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) November 29, 2023
I love how comments dont know what sportsmanship is. Its not “my favourite guy”, its the guy who treats his opponents the best. And i cant rlly think of many who are even close to djokovic in that regard.
— ??? (@tnuy_x) November 29, 2023
Should change this to No-Novak Award! Dont give him an award – C’mon won’t nominate him? Such a BS
now we know what motivates him – which isn’t subjective- gotta WIN! https://t.co/8WrBsALaou
— Murali (@murali_iygr) November 29, 2023
A couple of fans alleged that the awards are influenced by players’ sponsors. Hence, Sinner or Alcaraz will win because they are Nike athletes.
He’s @Lacoste as well so very unlikely he will glad given the award. Sinner or Alcaraz, the 2 big Nike players.
— Pavvy G (@pavyg) November 29, 2023
Alcaraz and Sinner are parts of newFedal project ( by nike and rolex etc..) and one of them will win, remember Wimbledon posters. https://t.co/8ShSpOfzXz
— Ⓜ️️N (@m_dezyani) November 30, 2023
More fans criticised Djokovic’s absence and dismissed the award’s relevance.
Awards for fair play in tennis, in last 15 years.
Both of them didn’t congrats to Djokovic last week for winning the Masters and 400 weeks No1.
Fair play of my ass.
pic.twitter.com/cZ8aakhNa2— Штурче (@Shtur_che) November 27, 2023
Of course it is. That’s why the award has absolutely no value any more https://t.co/Spm67VY7RI
— Aparna (@themockerybird_) November 29, 2023
You can keep your corrupt sportsmanship, we all know the ATP is a circus
— #FreePalestine (@mpshe_shamai) November 29, 2023
ATP AWARDS ARE A SCAM!
ATP AWARDS ARE A SCAM!
ATP AWARDS ARE A SCAM!
ATP AWARDS ARE A SCAM!
ATP AWARDS ARE A SCAM!
ATP AWARDS ARE A SCAM!— American President (@americanpresid3) November 29, 2023
Alcaraz breaks racquets, gets nominated.Djokovic breaks racquets, hence doesn’t get nominated. Breaking racquets is against sportsmanship only if your name is Novak Djokovic . ATP awards is a joke.Anyone can win these useless awards.We will win the awards which matter https://t.co/2cIGPN2eTq pic.twitter.com/5MiB1G6hS5
— Suraj S Subramanian (@SurajSSubraman1) November 30, 2023
All 2023 ATP Awards nominees as Novak Djokovic snubbed but his coach gets in
The year-end awards consist of the four aforementioned titles voted for by players and the Coach of the Year by coaches. Meanwhile, a popular vote chooses the Fans’ Favourite player and doubles team.
The Comeback of the Year Award is given to a player who made a remarkable return from injury to the top of the game. The nominees are Alexander Zverev, Dominik Koepfer, Gael Monfils, and Jan-Lennard Struff. The Newcomer of the Year is handed to a top-100 debutante with the best performances. Flavio Cobolli, Arthur Fils, Alex Michelsen, Dominic Stricker, and Luca Van Assche are the choices.
The Most Improved Player of the Year nominees are Matteo Arnaldi, Christoper Eubanks, Ben Shelton, and Jannik Sinner. Sinner is mentioned again as one of the probables for the sportsmanship award.
Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic is nominated for Coach of the Year. His ward’s performance in 2023 gives the Croat a high chance of winning this award. Novak Djokovic, meanwhile, is a strong favourite for the fan-choice award.
