Rafael Nadal didn’t say goodbye to Madrid in triumph, but he did leave the way we’ll remember him best: With a fight

Sportsman of the Year: Roger Federer (others: Usain Bolt, Valentino Rossi, Lionel Messi, Alberto Contador, Kenenisa Bekele)
Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams (others: Frederica Pellegrini, Britta Steffen, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sanya Richards, Lindsey Vonn)
Comeback of the year: Kim Clijsters (others: Lance Armstrong, Tom Watson, Brett Favre, Jessica Ennis, Blanka Vlasic)
Breakthrough of the Year: Juan Martin del Potro (others: Jenson Button, Mark Cavendish, Tom Daley, Ji Yai Shin, VFL Wolfsburg)

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Tennis well-represented in Laureus nominations

Rafael Nadal didn’t say goodbye to Madrid in triumph, but he did leave the way we’ll remember him best: With a fight

Rafael Nadal plans to play in Rome after a ‘positive’ week in likely his last Madrid Open

PHOTOS: Rafael Nadal waves goodbye in emotional Madrid ceremony as tributes pour in on social media

Jiri Lehecka takes racquet out of Rafael Nadal's hand with potent Madrid performance

Madison Keys gets bageled, then relaxes to conquer Ons Jabeur in Madrid quarters

How Alizé Lim has been loyal to tennis as both a player and broadcaster

Carlos Alcaraz scores win over Jan-Lennard Struff, increases Madrid win streak to 14

Jannik Sinner survives Karen Khachanov, scores comeback win in Madrid

Iga Swiatek defeats Beatriz Haddad Maia, reaches Madrid semifinals in three sets

Tennis well-represented in Laureus nominations