Top 10 World athletes of 2007

BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Following are the top 10 world sports athletes in 2007 selected by the Xinhua News Agency on Friday:

Roger Federer of Switzerland plays tennis with fans in Macau November 23, 2007. Federer will play a friendly match against Pete Sampras of the U.S. in Macau on November 24.

Michael Phelps of the U.S. breaks record in the men's 200m butterfly swimming heat at the World Aquatics Championship in Melbourne March 27, 2007.

Tyson Gay of the U.S. runs in the men's 100 metres heat during the London Grand Prix athletics event at Crystal Palace Park in London Aug. 3, 2007.

Women's World Player of the Year 2007 Marta of Brazil shows her trophy during the FIFA World Player of the Year awards ceremony in Zurich Dec. 17, 2007.

Ethiopia's Meseret Defar celebrates after setting the new world record in the women's two-miles race at the IAAF Brussels Golden League athletics meet (Memorial Ivo Van Damme) at the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels Sept. 14, 2007.

China's Liu Xiang (L) reaches the finish line in the men's 110m hurdles final at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka, Japan, Aug. 31, 2007.

Kaka of Brazil raises the FIFA World Player 2007 award during the FIFA World Player of the Year awards ceremony in Zurich Dec. 17, 2007.

Justine Henin of Belgium holds the throphy after her women's singles final match against Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia at the U.S. Open tennistournament in New York, the United States, Sept. 8, 2007.

Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland celebrates with the trophy after winning the Chinese F1 Grand Prix in Shanghai Oct. 7, 2007. Raikkonen won the title with 1 hour and 37 minutes 58.395 seconds.

Laure Manaudou of France holds her gold medal after winning the women's 400 metre freestyle final during the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Debrecen, 240 km (150 miles) east of Budapest, Dec. 15, 2007.