Serena Williams Rocks SI's Sportsperson Of The Year Cover

Tennis superstar Serena Williams lands the December 21st cover of Sports Illustrated after being named its 2015 Sportsperson of the Year after a series of record-breaking performances on tennis courts across the globe.

On the cover, Williams appears dressed in custom Michael Costello all-black lace bodysuit and patent leather power pumps, perched on a gold ornate throne. Sports Illustrated revealed that, 'The cover was Serena's idea, to express her own ideal of femininity, strength and power.'

'This year was spectacular,' Serena Williams said to SI. '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.'

Sports Illustrated Group Editor Paul Fichtenbaum said in a statement that Sports Illustrated selected Williams for the award because she 'has made a very strong case as not only the greatest tennis player of her generation but of all time, and after the string of performances she put together in 2015, she is one of the most dominant athletes playing today.'

Williams is the first single female athlete to win the award since 1983 (when the last individual female athlete chosen was track star Mary Decker), and first active tennis player since Chris Evert in 1976. She also becomes the first African American female athlete to win the award. Other past recipients of the award include Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali and Billie Jean King.

Congratulations, Serena!

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