LONDON - ENGLAND JULY 14: Serena Williams of USA in action against Angelique Kerber of Germany (not pictured) in the Ladies Singles Final on center court during The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 14, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Simon Bruty/Any Chance/Getty Images)Simon M Bruty/Getty Images

Serena Williams Named 2018 Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year

Christopher SimpsonDec 26, 2018

Tennis star Serena Williams has been voted as the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year for the fifth time.

Per the AP (h/t ESPN.com), Williams finished top of the voting, conducted by American editors and news directors, with 93 points, ahead of Simone Biles.

Gymnast Biles was second with 68 points, while basketballer Arike Ogunbowale came third.

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WTA Insider offered insight into her win:

Patrick Mouratoglou, Williams' coach since 2012, congratulated her:

Williams previously won the award in 2002, 2009, 2013 and 2015. In each of those years, she won at least two Grand Slam titles.

This year, the 37-year-old did not win a single tournament. However, in pursuit of her 24th Grand Slam singles title she did reach the finals of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, where she lost to Angelique Kerber and Naomi Osaka, respectively.

The American returned to singles competition in March after giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. on September 1, 2017.

Williams required four operations because of blood clots she developed after giving birth.

Per the AP, Williams' "perseverance" following her health issues inspired her reception of the award this year.