Lob and Smash
Fansided

Associated Press Names Serena Williams Female Athlete of the Year

By Harry Floyd

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Serena Williams of the United States poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the 2017 Women's Singles Australian Open Championship at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 28: Serena Williams of the United States poses with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after winning the 2017 Women's Singles Australian Open Championship at Melbourne Park on January 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

American tennis legend Serena Williams is named by the Associated Press as the female athlete of the year. It is the fifth time she has been awarded the honor.

Serena Williams is awarded the female athlete of the year honor by the Associated Press. It is the fifth time throughout her impressive career that she has been named the female athlete of the year. Previous times she won included 2002, 2009, 2013 and 2015. This comes on the heels of Williams also making the FanSided Fandom 250 list yet again.

The biggest factor in Williams winning the AP honor was her rapid ascent back to greatness following health scares and the birth of her child. On the 2018 WTA Tour, Williams bounced back and even reached two Grand Slam singles finals.

At Wimbledon this past year, Williams faced off against German tennis star Angelique Kerber in the finals. While Kerber would walk away with her first ever title at Wimbledon, the finals run was beyond impressive for Williams.

The American tennis legend would then also reach the finals at the 2018 US Open. There, she fell to first-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka. The younger champion would take their match 6–2, 6–4 but again, Williams defied the odds by reaching the finals.

Williams has dominated the sport of women’s tennis for the bulk of her career, but her return to the spot throughout the past year is especially noteworthy. The Associated Press gives her credit for returning to the women’s singles action and competing at the highest of levels while doing so.

BEST EVER: Federer or Williams?. dark. Next

Looking ahead to the 2019 WTA Tour, these are our EARLY FAVORITES AND PREDICTIONS. Find out who the players to beat in the coming year are by checking out the insights. The 2019 ATP Tour is also about to kick off. Serena Williams and other top tennis players around the world are gearing up for the season. Stay tuned to see if the American can outperform herself on the upcoming WTA Tour.

Home/Opinion