Siiadoee - LONDON (AP) — Rafael Nadal and Garbine Muguruza have won the International Tennis Federation's player of the year awards. At 31, Nadal becomes the oldest ITF men's world champion after a season in which he won a 10th French Open and a third U.S. Open.
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns to David Goffin of Belgium during their singles tennis match at the ATP World Finals at the O2 Arena in London. Rafael Nadal and fellow Spaniard Garbine Muguruza have won the International Tennis Federation's player of the year awards, it was announced on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017.
The Spaniard also became the oldest player to finish the year at No. 1 since the ATP rankings began in 1973. Muguruza dropped only one set en route to her first Wimbledon title and finished the year at No. 2 behind Simona Halep.
"Becoming ITF world champion in such a competitive year is amazing for me," said Muguruza, who is also Spanish. "(Nadal) is a great role model for all of us, so it is a great moment for tennis in Spain."