Federer, Williams win ITF awards
Published:Tuesday | December 22, 2009 | 1:19 PM
Roger Federer and Serena Williams were selected today as the International Tennis Federation\'s (ITF) World Champions of 2009.
Federer, who receives the ITF award for a fifth time, completed a career Grand Slam by winning the French Open and captured a record 15th major title by winning Wimbledon. He also regained the Number 1 ranking from Rafael Nadal.
Williams, who receives the ITF honor for a second time, won the Australian Open and Wimbledon to bring her career total of Grand Slam titles to 11.
Serena and Venus Williams were selected as women\'s doubles world champions for the first time, making Serena the first player since Martina Hingis in 1999 to receive both singles and doubles honors.
The winners will receive their awards at the annual ITF World Champions dinner on June 1 in Paris, during the French Open.
Williams also received another award. She was a landslide choice for Female Athlete of the Year by members of the Associated Press.
Williams received 66 of 158 votes cast by editors at U.S. newspapers that are members of the AP. No one else got more than 18 votes in the tally announced today.