Serena Williams has won the Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year Award for 2015 after winning three of the four Grand Slam tournaments at the Australian Open, at the Roland Garros and at Wimbledon. She lost the US Open semifinal against Roberta Vinci in three sets. She recorded a 53-3 win-loss record and won her seventh WTA Player of the Year Award. She has won 21 Grand Slam titles, just one less than Steffi Graf. During 2015 she won two more tournaments (Miami and Cincinnati).
In the Sports Illustrated Poll Serena beat American Pharoah, the first horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown, who was the overwhelming choice in the magazine’s online poll with 47 percent of the votes.
US middle distance star Mary Decker was the last female athlete to win the Sports Illustrated Magazine award by herself. The only other three tennis players honoured by Sports Illustrated were Arthur Ashe, Chris Evert and Billie Jean King.
“This year was spectacular. To be recognized with this award by Sports Illustrated for my hard work, dedication and sheer determination gives me hope to continue on and do better. This is not an accomplishment for me, but for my whole team and all my fans”, said Serena Williams.
“She was the most deserving person for the award. She had an amazing year. The way she won her events, the fact that she has done so for many years at such a high level. She was a terrific candidate in a year of terrific candidates. Men’s sports has dominated until recently, when women’s sports has grown in popularity, and the competition is better than ever. There is more of a focus on women’s sport now. It’s grown considerably”, said Paul Fichtenbaum, editor of the Sports Illustrated Group.
