Del Potro honoured

US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro has beaten Barcelona star Lionel Messi to the Argentinian Sportsperson of the year award.

The 21-year-old, who won New Zealand's Heineken Open earlier in the year, enjoyed a stunning year, winning his first Grand Slam and reaching the final of the ATP World Tour Finals in London as well as triumphing in seven ATP events.

Del Potro beat off stiff competition to win the Olimpia de Oro award, including Messi who has helped Barca to a clean sweep of all six trophies they could have lifted this year.

It is the first big prize the 22-year-old has lost out on in 2009 after lifting both the Ballon D'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards this month.

Del Potro, who finished the year in fifth place in the ATP rankings, was delighted with his award.

He said: "I'm happy because this distinction is obtained competing against the country's other great athletes, who I have to congratulate and take the opportunity to wish that they fulfil their aims in 2010,

"Ending 2009 in this way is very nice. It gives me a lot of desire and excitement to face the coming year in the best way possible."