Advertisement

Roger Federer wins BBC Overseas Sports Personality of Year award for a record fourth time

Federer won the public vote from a six-strong shortlist  - REUTERS
Federer won the public vote from a six-strong shortlist - REUTERS

Roger Federer has been named BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year for a record fourth time.

Federer overtook fellow three-time winners Muhammad Ali and Usain Bolt after rolling back the years to win the Australian Open before becoming the first man to win eight Wimbledon singles titles at the age of 36.

His dramatic five-set win over Rafael Nadal in Melbourne ended a near five-year drought of grand slam triumphs, with his victory at the All England Club increasing his haul of majors to a record 19.

A public vote on the BBC Sport website saw Federer crowned the Overseas Sports Personality of the Year from a six-strong shortlist which also included Super Bowl-winning quarterback Tom Brady and world champions Katie Ledecky (swimming), Sally Pearson (sprint hurdling), Tatyana McFadden (wheelchair racing) and Michael van Gerwen (darts).

The Swiss said: “It makes me incredibly proud that the UK public have chosen me as the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year for 2017.

The support that the UK crowds give me whenever I’m here is amazing, and to be recognised on the shortlist alongside some of the greatest sportspeople of all time is extremely humbling.”

Federer thanks the crowd at the US Open - Credit: AP
Federer’s latest Sports Personality award comes a decade after his last Credit: AP

Federer’s latest Sports Personality award comes a decade after his last, which he won in 2007 after matching Bjorn Borg’s feat of five successive Wimbledon crowns and coming within one victory of completing a calendar Grand Slam.

That made Federer only the second person after Ali to retain the BBC prize, having been recognised the previous year for also winning all but one of his matches in majors.

His first prize came two years earlier when he again claimed three of the four grand slams.

Federer was beaten by Shane Warne in 2005 following the legendary spinner’s role in the greatest ever Ashes series.

The overseas award will be included in Sunday’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.