Skip to Main ContentAccessibility Help
Tennis

Canadian Vasek Pospisil named ATP comeback player of the year

Vancouver's Vasek Pospisil reached two tournament finals during the abbreviated 2020 season after undergoing back surgery last year.

30-year-old jumped from 150 to No. 61 in rankings

The Canadian Press ·
Vasek Pospisil missed most of the 2019 season after back surgery. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

Canada's Vasek Pospisil has been named the ATP Tour's comeback player of the year.

Pospisil, from Vancouver, reached two tournament finals during the abbreviated 2020 season after undergoing back surgery last year.

Ranked 150th last year, Pospisil has climbed to No. 61. A former world No. 25, Pospisil was sidelined for much of 2019.

The 30-year-old Pospisil reached the final at the Open Sud de France before the COVID-19 pandemic started and matched the feat in November at the Sofia Open in Bulgaria.

Pospisil also reached the fourth round of the U.S. Open after wins over No. 11 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain and No. 18 Milos Raonic of Thornhill, Ont., at the Grand Slam in New York.

Kevin Anderson of South Africa, Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia and Raonic also were nominated for comeback player of the year.

Players vote for the comeback player of the year award.

Other award winners:

  • Russia's Andrey Rublev (most improved player)
  • Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (newcomer of the year)
  • Spain's Rafael Nadal (Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award)
  • American Francis Tiafoe (Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award)
  • Switzerland's Rogers Federer (Fans' Favourite Award, singles)
  • Britain's Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski (Fans' Favourite Award, doubles)
  • Fernando Vicente (coach of the year)
  • Bob Brett (Tim Gullikson Career Coach Award)
  • Kevin Mitchell (Ron Bookman Media Excellence Award)
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC Sports
|Corrections and Clarifications

Related Stories

Add some “good” to your morning and evening.

A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you.

Sign up now

Comments

To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.

By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

Become a CBC Member

Join the conversation  Create account

Already have an account?

now