NEW YORK, Dec 15: Serena Williams, who owned the tennis world this year even as she battled illness and injury, was named sportsperson of 2015 yesterday by Sports Illustrated.
The magazine said it was honoring the 34-year-old icon both for her positively stunning numbers and her pluck in achieving what it called one of the greatest late-career runs in the history of any sport.
Williams won three major titles, triumphed in 53 of the 56 matches she played and ranked number one for every week of the season for the second straight year.
And for six weeks this season, Williams had twice as many ranking points as the world number two player. Sports Illustrated said this was a first in the 40-year history of the WTA rankings.
But those stats mask a year that was �all internal discord and quelled revolts; Williams battled her body like never before,� Sports Illustrated said.
To wit: a cough and cold that had her vomiting during a match at the Australian Open, which she won anyway; bone bruises in both knees � �the residue of 20 years of pounding� � a right elbow strain and nasty flu at the French Open (again, she won).
In a powerful statement against racism, Williams also returned to play a tournament at Indian Wells, California, for the first time since 2001. That year she was greeted with boos and her family says she even endured racial slurs. � AFP
