Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams named 2014 world champions by ITF :
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have been named 2014 world champions by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
The annual award takes in performances on the regular Tour and grand slams.
Wimbledon champion Djokovic takes the men’s prize for the fourth time having won seven titles this season and the year-end top ranking for the third time in four years.
Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic top International Tennis Federation awards
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were named as men’s and women’s World Champions for 2014 on Thursday by the International Tennis Federation.
It is the fourth time that Djokovic has taken the top award after he won Wimbledon, the ATP World Tour finals and finished the year ranked number one in the world by the ATP.
The 27-year-old Serb is one of only four men to be named ITF World Champion four or more times, alongside Ivan Lendl, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.
Williams won the US Open, the 18th grand slam title of her career, the ATP Tour Championship and was also ranked number one by the WTA.
Germany triumphant, Brazil eclipsed in dramatic year
A superb World Cup featuring one of the greatest upsets in the sport’s history, Germany’s fourth title and the duel between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to be the world’s best were among the football highlights of 2014.
Real Madrid’s long-awaited tenth European crown – ‘la decima’ – secured after they equalised late in normal time before winning the Champions League final 4-1 after extra time against Atletico Madrid in Lisbon was another dramatic moment.
But far too often in a turbulent 12 months, the headlines made for unsettling reading.
Allegations surrounding corruption within FIFA never end with world’sfootball’s tarnished governing body lurching from one drama to another over the decision it took in 2010 to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 finals to Qatar.
Phillip Hughes tragedy overshadows cricket’s 2014
London: Cricket confronted tragedy in 2014 with the death of Phillip Hughes after the Australia batsman was hit by a bouncer in a domestic first-class match.
Several batsmen had previously been killed in similar incidents, albeit at lower levels of the game, and two days after Hughes’ death Israeli umpire Hillel Oscar died after a ball ricocheted off the stumps.
But the fact Hughes, 25, had scored three Test hundreds and was wearing a helmet, although the ball hit him on an unprotected area of the skull, contributed to a huge sense of shock throughout the cricket world.
Australia captain Michael Clarke, in a moving eulogy at Hughes’ funeral, recalled walking out to the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground – where his friend died – for the first time following his former teammate’s passing.
Umpire dies in Israeli cricket match after being struck on the head by a ball
An Israeli cricket umpire has died after being hit by a ball during a league match in the city of Ashdod, the Israel Cricket Association has announced.
Former national team captain Hillel Oscar was officiating in the game between Young Ashdod and Super Lions Lod when he was struck below the jaw by a ball hit by a batsman.
The incident comes just two days after the death of Australia Test player Phillip Hughes, who also suffered fatal injuries after being hit by a bouncer bowled during a Sheffield Shield match.
In a statement on Facebook, Israel Cricket Association said: ‘Today, another cricketing tragedy has taken the life of our very own Hillel Oscar, the former Israeli cricket captain.
‘All of the Israel cricket family is in deep mourning at his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Hillel’s family.’
ICA chief executive Naor Gudker added: ‘The entire Israel Cricket Association and players bow their heads in his memory. He was a wonderful man, cricketer, and umpire.’
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have been named 2014 world champions by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
The annual award takes in performances on the regular Tour and grand slams.
Wimbledon champion Djokovic takes the men’s prize for the fourth time having won seven titles this season and the year-end top ranking for the third time in four years.
Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic top International Tennis Federation awards
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were named as men’s and women’s World Champions for 2014 on Thursday by the International Tennis Federation.
It is the fourth time that Djokovic has taken the top award after he won Wimbledon, the ATP World Tour finals and finished the year ranked number one in the world by the ATP.
The 27-year-old Serb is one of only four men to be named ITF World Champion four or more times, alongside Ivan Lendl, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer.
Williams won the US Open, the 18th grand slam title of her career, the ATP Tour Championship and was also ranked number one by the WTA.
Germany triumphant, Brazil eclipsed in dramatic year
A superb World Cup featuring one of the greatest upsets in the sport’s history, Germany’s fourth title and the duel between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to be the world’s best were among the football highlights of 2014.
Real Madrid’s long-awaited tenth European crown – ‘la decima’ – secured after they equalised late in normal time before winning the Champions League final 4-1 after extra time against Atletico Madrid in Lisbon was another dramatic moment.
But far too often in a turbulent 12 months, the headlines made for unsettling reading.
Allegations surrounding corruption within FIFA never end with world’sfootball’s tarnished governing body lurching from one drama to another over the decision it took in 2010 to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia and the 2022 finals to Qatar.
Phillip Hughes tragedy overshadows cricket’s 2014
London: Cricket confronted tragedy in 2014 with the death of Phillip Hughes after the Australia batsman was hit by a bouncer in a domestic first-class match.
Several batsmen had previously been killed in similar incidents, albeit at lower levels of the game, and two days after Hughes’ death Israeli umpire Hillel Oscar died after a ball ricocheted off the stumps.
But the fact Hughes, 25, had scored three Test hundreds and was wearing a helmet, although the ball hit him on an unprotected area of the skull, contributed to a huge sense of shock throughout the cricket world.
Australia captain Michael Clarke, in a moving eulogy at Hughes’ funeral, recalled walking out to the pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground – where his friend died – for the first time following his former teammate’s passing.
Umpire dies in Israeli cricket match after being struck on the head by a ball
An Israeli cricket umpire has died after being hit by a ball during a league match in the city of Ashdod, the Israel Cricket Association has announced.
Former national team captain Hillel Oscar was officiating in the game between Young Ashdod and Super Lions Lod when he was struck below the jaw by a ball hit by a batsman.
The incident comes just two days after the death of Australia Test player Phillip Hughes, who also suffered fatal injuries after being hit by a bouncer bowled during a Sheffield Shield match.
In a statement on Facebook, Israel Cricket Association said: ‘Today, another cricketing tragedy has taken the life of our very own Hillel Oscar, the former Israeli cricket captain.
‘All of the Israel cricket family is in deep mourning at his passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Hillel’s family.’
ICA chief executive Naor Gudker added: ‘The entire Israel Cricket Association and players bow their heads in his memory. He was a wonderful man, cricketer, and umpire.’
