Federer wins fourth straight world award

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Roger Federer lifted the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award for the fourth straight time on Monday when Justine Henin made it a tennis double by taking the women's accolade for the first time.

Swiss world number one Federer won his fifth straight Wimbledon title last season to equal Bjorn Borg's record.

Belgian Henin, meanwhile, became the first player to win 10 titles in a season since Martina Hingis 10 years ago.

The team award went to South Africa who defeated England in the final of rugby union's World Cup in Paris last October.

British winners selected by members of the Laureus Sports Academy were Formula One star Lewis Hamilton for the World Breakthrough of the Year and marathon runner Paula Radcliffe for the World Comeback of the Year.

Federer won three out of the four Grand Slam tournaments in 2007 -- he also triumphed in Australia and the U.S. -- and was runner-up at the French Open.

He also took the season-ending Masters in Shanghai and finished the year World No.1 for the fourth time in a row.

The 26-year-old has collected 12 Grand Slam titles, two adrift of the record held by the retired Pete Sampras, but lost in the Melbourne semifinals last month.

Referring to his loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open, Federer said: "There are many up-and-coming youngsters in the game and it was about time they won something.

"They proved it at the Australian Open with two very young players in the final (Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga), but I hope I can keep my ground for some time to come."

He added: "Three to go (Grand Slams) and to win the French Open which is next would be great."

Women's world No. 1 Henin won two Grand Slam tournaments in 2007, at the French and US Opens, and finished the year by lifting the WTA Tour Championships in Madrid.

It was the first time she has won the Laureus award succeeding Russian pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva.

"It was a tough year personally," Henin said. "Big issues, but I kept fighting and it has been the best season of my career so far."

Hamilton finished second in the F1 drivers' standings in his rookie season.

"I don't think I deserved it as much as some of the other nominees and I hope I can keep my country proud and do well in the future," the 22-year-old Hamilton said.

"I'm approaching the season with the same determination and I want to push harder."

Radcliffe won the New York Marathon after two years away from competition following childbirth.

"Paula is renowned as a great fighter," Laureus World Sports Academy chairman Edwin Moses said.

"When someone is out of running for two years when they are in their 30s you do wonder if they are going to be able to come back as fit and as strong, but Paula certainly showed she was when she won in New York.

"I wish her all the best for the Beijing Olympics."

Other awards went to Dutch wheelchair tennis player Esther Vergeer as World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability and US skateboarder Shaun White as World Action Sportsperson of the Year. E-mail to a friend