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TENNIS, SPORTS

Spain's Rafael Nadal was named Thursday as male athlete of the year by French sports daily L'Equipe, while another tennis star, American Serena Williams, won the women's honor for the second straight year.

Nadal, who was on hand for the awards gala in Paris, beat out Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, last year's winner; French soccer star Franck Ribery; and Formula One champ Sebastian Vettel, among others, for the L'Equipe Champion of Champions prize.

The Spaniard, who this year extended his record haul of French Open titles to eight, said Paris has been the "most important city" of his sporting career.

He described 2013, in which he returned to the ATP Tour after a months-long injury hiatus to have one of his best years, as "full of emotions."

Besides winning Roland Garros for the eighth time in nine years, Nadal captured his second U.S. Open title and recaptured the No. 1 ranking.

Nadal also was named the L'Equipe Champion of Champions in 2010.

Williams, the top player in women's tennis, was honored for a year in which she won 11 tournaments, including the French Open and U.S. Open titles.

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker, whose team came up just short in its quest to win the NBA title in 2012-2013, and Marion Bartoli, who retired from tennis after winning this year's Wimbledon crown, were named the French athletes of the year.