Tennis Photograph of the Year revealed: Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the mix of winners

Frank Molter, a German photographer, took home one of last year's major awards. His famous portrait of the wheelchair tennis star Tokito Oda was chosen as the greatest tennis image of the previous 12 months. In front of a packed Roland Garros, 18-year-old Tokito Oda defeated Alfie Hewett of Great Britain in an exciting three-set battle to win the men's singles title at the 2024 Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis tournament in August.

Tokito Oda took off his chair's wheels and sobbed on the court as he celebrated his triumph; this incident was caught on camera by this year's winner, who took home the $3,000 top prize. Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are among the top tennis players whose photos have been nominated for the annual ITF Tennis Photograph of the Year. The winners and losers of an incredible tennis year are now inscribed in history.

"It feels unreal. I never thought I would have a chance to win," said Molter. "I thought Oda might fall on his back if he won, but the fact that he dismantled his wheelchair blew my mind. This is also a huge recognition for athletes with disabilities who invest so much in their sports and I hope my photo can increase the attention on the sport."

ITF Tennis Photograph of the Year WINNER! 🏆📸

In celebrating his victory, Oda removed the wheels from his chair and lay in tears on the court – a moment captured by this year’s winning photographer, Frank Molter 🇩🇪 who claims the top prize of $3,000 USD. pic.twitter.com/yUzmNbFGLx

— ITF (@ITFTennis) December 20, 2024

Rafael Nadal photo won the second prize

The judging panel, which included ITF President David Haggerty, two-time Grand Slam Champion Garbine Muguruza, and tennis photographer Paul Zimmer, decided on the winners and the top ten shortlist. The amateur French photographer Agathe Monier, who won $1,000 for her photograph of Rafael Nadal leaving Court Philippe Chatrier during his final Grand Slam appearance at Roland Garros, which came in second, while Fiona Hamilton, an Australian, took third place with a joyful young child crawling under a net at the National Indigenous Tennis Carnival in Darwin, Australia, in August.

Other chosen photos include tennis activities from throughout the globe, such as Novak Djokovic enjoying his Olympic men's singles gold medal with his family and Christopher Bulus' passionate celebrations after guiding Nigeria to victory over Zimbabwe in Davis Cup Africa Group III in July.

The global tour is unpredictable, and tennis photographers travel all over the world to log a lot of miles in the hopes of catching one or two classic shots. This makes them one of the most traveled sports photographers.