2006 ATP Tennis Awards
PLAYER OF THE YEAR- ROGER FEDERER
The Swiss finished No. 1 for the third straight year, highlighted by an ATP-best 12
titles (most in a season since Thomas Muster in 1995). Federer’s haul included three
Grand Slam crowns for the second time in three years and four ATP Masters Series
shields for the second straight season. He became the first player in the Open Era
(since 1968) to win at least 10 titles for three consecutive years and became only
the fifth player since 1973 to end the year at No. 1 for at least three consecutive
years. He was the first player to reach all four Grand Slam finals in a year since
Rod Laver in 1969. Federer competed in 16 finals in 17 tournaments played and won a
career-high 92 matches. He became the first player in history to surpass $8 million
in a season. Won his third Tennis Masters Cup title.
DOUBLES TEAM OF THE YEAR – BOB AND MIKE BRYAN
The American twins finished as the No. 1 team in the Stanford ATP Doubles Race for
the third time in four years, winning 66 matches and an ATP-high and personal-best
seven titles in 10 finals. The
consecutive year. They won the Australian Open and then completed a career Grand
Slam by winning
appearance). They went on a 21-match win streak beginning at Wimbledon until
reaching the
STEFAN EDBERG SPORTSMANSHIP – ROGER FEDERER
Not only is he the best, but he’s also the fairest. ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer
has been voted by his peers as the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship winner for the third
consecutive year. Just two others players – Edberg (1988-90) and Patrick Rafter
(1999-2001) – have won the award three consecutive years. (Edberg also won the award
in 1992 and ’95; Rafter won the first of his four awards in 1997).
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER – NOVAK DJOKOVIC
The Serbian compiled his best season by capturing two ATP titles (
in three finals and finishing as the youngest player in year-end Top 20. he also
made a breakthrough in Grand Slam play with a quarterfinal showing at Roland Garros.
Djokovic led the ATP circuit with a 19-5 tie-break record.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – BENJAMIN BECKER
In his first season at ATP level, Becker made the biggest jump of any player in the
Top 100 from the previous year, climbing 419 ranking positions to end the year at
No. 58. He won nine ATP-level matches (despite not making his debut until
June) and compiled a record of 30 wins and 15 losses in Challenger play. In his
second Grand Slam appearance he reached the fourth round of the US Open, ending
Andre Agassi’s career in the third round.
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR – MARDY FISH
The American made a big comeback after undergoing two left wrist operations in
2005, which saw his ranking drop to as low as No.
climbing up the ATP Rankings to finish in the Top 50 at No. 47. Fish finished with a
22-18 record at ATP level – which included his second ATP title in
also won Challenger titles in
ATPTENNIS.COM FANS’ FAVORITE (SINGLES)- ROGER FEDERER
For the fourth consecutive year Roger Federer has won the ATPtennis.com Fans’
Favorite Award. More than 40,000 fans voted online, with Federer receiving 10,772
votes to finish ahead of Chilean Fernando Gonzalez (8,064) and Rafael Nadal (6,347).
ATPTENNIS.COM FANS’ FAVORITE (DOUBLES) – BOB AND MIKE BRYAN
American twins Bob and Mike Bryan were runaway winners of the ATPtennis.com Fans’
Favorite (Doubles) Award. The reigning
finish ahead of Jonas Bjorkman and Max Mirnyi (10,498) and Fabrice Santoro and Nenad
Zimonjic (5,627).