Felix Auger-Aliassime lost his maiden major semifinal to Daniil Medvedev, but was still a big US Open winner.
The 12th-seeded Auger-Aliassime and world No. 1 Ash Barty were awarded the men’s and women’s 2021 US Open Sportsperson Awards on Thursday.
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The awards are presented to the professional tennis players who best demonstrate excellence in sportspersonship throughout the US Open Series and the US Open.
Eligibility requirements for winners include participating in at least two US Open Series tournaments, as well as the 2021 US Open.
The USTA started a committee in 2011, its charge being to “educate and inspire youngsters and their parents to develop and exhibit a high degree of sportspersonship and an attitude of fair play and mutual respect on and off the tennis court. Underlying the charge is the ethical imperative that fairness is more important than winning.”
The USTA Sportsperson Award Selection Committee is comprised of USTA representatives, former players and journalists, including Todd Martin and Lars Rosene, Jon Vegosen, Mary Carillo, Mary Joe Fernandez, Chanda Rubin, Joel Drucker, Steve Flink and Matt Cronin.
Photo credit: Jennifer Pottheiser/USTA/US Open