今年在美网对裁判恶语相向遭重罚、但靠全年出色发挥夺回世界“网坛一姐”称号的美国名将塞瑞娜•威廉姆斯被美联社评选为2009年度最佳女运动员。这项年度最佳评选活动始于1931年，每年评选一次，参加投票的是美联社的编辑。今年参加投票的共158人，小威得到了其中的66票，以绝对优势当选；而其他入围选手得票数均未能超过18票。显然，小威在美网女单半决赛中的小小恶行并未对其头号地位产生影响。小威曾在七年前获此殊荣，而今年能够再次当选，她表示很开心，并且庆幸自己还在打网球，感觉自己回到了2002年时的状态。

　　Playing her best at the most importantevents, Serena Williams re-established herself as the top player inwomen's tennis in 2009 and was a landslide choice as Female Athlete ofthe Year by members of The Associated Press。

　　Williams received 66 of 158 votes castby editors at U.S. newspapers that are members of the AP. No othercandidate got more than 18 votes in the tally, which was announcedTuesday。

　　Clearly, Williams' most infamouson-court episode — a tirade directed at a line judge after a foot-faultcall near the end of her U.S. Open semifinal loss in September — didn'thurt her standing in the eyes of the voters。

　　"People realize that I'm a greatplayer, and one moment doesn't define a person's career," Williams toldthe AP. "And I was right, for the most part: It wasn't right the way Ireacted — I never said it was — but I was right about the call."

　　She also noted that the outburst,which resulted in a record fine and two-year probationary period atGrand Slam tournaments, "got a lot more people excited about tennis."

　　The 28-year-old American tends to do that, thanks to her powerful, athletic play and her outgoing personality。

　　"We can attribute the strength and thegrowth of women's tennis a great deal to her," WTA chairman and CEOStacey Allaster said in a telephone interview. "She is a superstar."

　　Williams, who is based in Florida,also won the AP award in 2002, a seven-year gap that is the longestbetween AP Female Athlete of the Year honors since golf's Patty Bergwon in 1943 and 1955.

　　"I'm just happy and blessed to even beplaying seven years later. All this is a bonus, really," Williams said."In 2002, I just was really dominant, and I think in 2009, I justbrought that back. I kind of became that player again."