Cape Town - Serena Williams has won the coveted Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year at a glittering ceremony in Monaco, beating the likes of Caster Semenya and other female stars in the process.
Williams, who is currently absent from the WTA circuit after giving birth to a baby girl in September last year, won the accolade from Olympic champion Semenya, Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza, 16-time world athletics championship medalist Allyson Felix, 19-year-old swimming sensation Katie Ledecky and World Cup champion skier Mikaela Shiffrin.
Williams has won 23 Grand Slam titles during the course of her career with her last coming at the 2017 Australian Open.
The Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year is @serenawilliams! ??#Laureus18 pic.twitter.com/YHWQmSt5Ad
— #Laureus18 (@LaureusSport) February 27, 2018