Serena Williams selected as AP's top female athlete

Serena Williams was named the runaway winner of the Associated Press' 2013 Female Athlete of the Year award, it was announced Wednesday.

Williams won the French and U.S Open championships this year, boosting her career Grand Slam titles to 17, and 11 tournaments overall. Her season highlights also included a 78-4 record and a 34-match winning streak, the longest in women's tennis since her sister, Venus, won 35 straight in 2000.

In winning the award for the third time in his career (2002, 2009), Williams received 55 of 96 votes. WNBA and former Baylor player Brittney Griner finished a distant second with 14 votes and swimmer Missy Franklin was third with 10 votes.

At age 32, Williams is the oldest No. 1-ranked player in WTA history. Tennis player Chris Evert and athlete Babe Didridkson are the only women to win the AP award more times times than Williams.