Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott join Rafael Nadal as ITF award winners
Ash Barty and Dylan Alcott have capped off stunning years with top awards from the International Tennis Federation. But they weren’t the only high profile winners.
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The avalanche of global recognition for Ashleigh Barty’s extraordinary 2019 season continues with the International Tennis Federation’s decision to crown the Queenslander as world champion.
Barty, along with Victorian Dylan Alcott and Spaniard Rafael Nadal, is among 11 players saluted by the ITF for excellence this season.
French Open champion and world No 1 Barty is the first Australian to be named ITF women’s world champion after a stunning 57-13 season crowned by four titles.
“I’m honoured to be named this year’s ITF world champion,” Barty said after adding the awards to The Don, Newcombe Medal and WTA accolades.
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“2019 has been an incredible year, winning the French Open and making the Fed Cup final were highlights.
“I’m so proud of my team and I for what we have achieved and can’t wait for the 2020 season to begin.”
Nadal was named men’s world champion for the fourth time.
“I am very happy to be named ITF world champion and receive this award from the ITF,” the French and US Open winner said.
“To finish as No. 1 on the ATP rankings for a fifth time and win two more grand slam titles this year has been something that looking a few years back we would have never thought it would happen.
“And as a perfect end, it was particularly special to win the Davis Cup at home in Spain. Thank you also to my team who has been with me all this time.”
Alcott is ITF wheelchair world champion for the second year running.
He won the Australian and French Opens and Wimbledon this year and won all four major doubles crowns.
His loss in the US Open final was his only defeat all year in both singles and doubles, finishing the year with a 16-1 singles win-loss record.
Other award winners were Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic (women’s doubles) and Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah (men’s doubles).
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Gustavo Fernandez and Diede de Groot were also hailed in the wheelchair division.
Argentina’s Thiago Tirante and France Diane Parry are the junior world champions.
The ITF’s selection of its world champions is based on an objective system that considers all results during the year, but gives special weight to the majors, Davis Cup and Fed Cup.