New York, Dec 14 (EFE).– U.S. tennis icon Serena Williams was selected Monday by Sports Illustrated to be its Sportsperson of the Year.

During 2015, Williams won three Grand Slam titles, had an individual 53-3 record on the court, took home her seventh WTA Player of the Year award and she is also the first U.S. woman in 32 years to be selected by SI magazine to be its Sportsperson of the Year.

“This year was spectacular,” Williams said in a statement. “For Sports Illustrated to recognize my hard work, dedication and sheer determination with this award gives me hope to continue on and do better. As I always say, it takes a village – not just one person. This is not just an accomplishment for me, but for my whole team and all my fans. I am beyond honored.”

The last time SI chose an individual woman for the honor was in 1983 when it selected track champion Mary Decker.

The winner of the designation last year was San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner, who was named Most Valuable Player in the World Series his team won 4-3 against the Kansas City Royals.

“She was the most deserving person for the award. She had an amazing year. The way she won her events; the fact that she’s done this for so many years at such a high level,” said Paul Fichtenbaum, editor of the Sports Illustrated Group, of Williams.

“She was a terrific candidate in a year of terrific candidates,” he added.

Williams won the Australian Open, the French Open (Roland Garros) and Wimbledon titles and was just two matches away from completing the Grand Slam circuit when she lost in the U.S. Open semifinals.

The younger of the Williams sisters at age 34, Serena also won five individual titles and was the WTA’s No. 1-ranked player all season long.

Other tennis players who have won the sports magazine’s Sportsperson of the Year award have been Billie Jean King (1972), Chris Evert (1976) and Arthur Ashe (1992). EFE