Tue Mar 25 21:19:38 2008

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Federer, Bryans highlight ATP awards

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Miami, FL (Sports Network) - World No. 1 player Roger Federer highlighted the winners of the 2007 ATP Awards, which were presented Tuesday, on the eve of start of the Sony Ericsson Open.

Federer won the Player of the Year Award for a fourth straight year and also captured the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award for a fourth consecutive season. The super Swiss also was voted as the fans' favorite player for a fifth year in a row.

"I am very happy to receive three more ATP awards for 2007," Federer said. "The Sportsmanship Award is voted by my fellow players and it is a great recognition for me. It is equally important to be voted by the fans as their favorite player. 2007 was a fantastic year for me, finishing No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings for the fourth consecutive time and continuing to receive the support of the players and fans worldwide."

The American brothers of Bob and Mike Bryan, the top doubles team for the fourth time in five years, captured the Doubles Team of the Year Award for the third consecutive year. The Bryans also were voted the fans' favorite for a third consecutive year.

"We really enjoyed playing so well last season, winning a personal-best 11 titles and capping it off with a Davis Cup victory," Mike Bryan said. "It was a very special year. Being voted fan favorite is also very important to us. Wherever we go the fans support us and make us feel really great."

Also, defending Sony Ericsson Open champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia won the Most Improved Player of the Year honor for a second straight year, while Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was named Newcomer of the Year. Tsonga started 2007 ranked 212th, but ended at 43rd. Russian Igor Andreev was named Comeback Player of the Year after returning from a left knee injury in 2006 to finish in the top 50 for a third time in four years.