After winning the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award in 2003 and the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award in 2007, Serena Williams won the 2010 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award at the Awards Ceremony in Abu Dhabi. With this award, she has become the first woman in history to achieve something of this sort.

Serena was also nominated for the Laureus Sportswoman Award in 2001, 2002 and 2004 and the Laureus Newcomer Award in 2000. She won her second Laureus Sportswoman Award, seven years after winning her first award. This award is followed up by her Grand Slam victories in 2009 in Wimbledon and Australia. 

After struggling with a string of injuries, Serena Williams re-invented herself and regained the world No 1 ranking for the fifth time in her glorious career. Jubilant after receiving this award, Serena quoted,“I am just so delighted to win this Award, but very disappointed I cannot be in Abu Dhabi to say thank you in person. It’s my third Laureus Award which is amazing and I would like to say thank you to all the Academy Members who voted for me and to the world’s media who nominated me. Last year had its ups and downs, so to get this support is fantastic.” 

She further added, “As a tennis player you look at the amazing names of the Academy Members - like John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Boris Becker and Monica Seles - who have won so many Grand Slams and they know what it takes to do that. There is nothing better in sport than being acknowledged by the people that you looked up to when you were a young player. The Laureus Awards have been a constant reflection of my career, winning in 2003 and 2007, and I think I was also nominated four more times. I know only Roger Federer has more Awards, so it would be cool to catch him up.” 

On her injuries and future plans, Serena quipped “I’ve had a few injury problems over the years, so it’s been great to get back to the top and be World No 1 again. It’s going to be an interesting year with Justine Henin back, but I’m playing well and it was great to win in Australia, and I still want to win every tournament I play. It’s going to be a very exciting 2010.”