American tennis star Serena Williams won both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2009 and re-established herself at the peak of tennis by regaining the world No 1 ranking for the fifth time in her career. Along with the No 1 ranking, she broke the record set by Justine Henin for the most prize money earned by a female tennis player in one season with a total of US$6,545,586 during the year.
In the Australian Open final, Serena defeated Dinara Safina 6–0, 6–3 in 59 minutes to take her fourth Australian title, tying the record for most victories at the event with Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Margaret Court and Evonne Cawley. At Wimbledon she beat her sister Venus in the final 7–6, 6–2, to win her third title there.
At the end of 2009, Serena had taken her total of career Grand Slam singles victories to 11, putting her seventh on the all-time list. In total, she has won 23 Grand Slam titles - 11 in singles, ten in women's doubles and two in mixed doubles. In addition, she has won two Olympic gold medals in women’s doubles. She has won more career prize money than any other female athlete in history.
A little of the gloss of the year was lost at the US Open after an on-court row with a lineswoman who foot-faulted her in the final set of the semi-final against Kim Clijster. As a result, she was penalized a point for unsportsmanlike conduct and lost the match. However, she was back to winning ways in the next Grand Slam, the 2010 Australian Open, just after the close of the Laureus qualifying year, beating Justine Henin in the final. Her victory was her fifth Australian Open, and her 12th career singles Grand Slam title.
Serena Williams has previously won two Laureus Awards – the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award in 2003 and the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award in 2007. She was also nominated for the Laureus Sportswoman Award in 2001, 2002 and 2004 and the Laureus Newcomer Award in 2000.
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