Serena wins Associated Press' 2013 Female Athlete of the Year award for third time

World number one Serena Williams has reportedly been honoured as The Associated Press' 2013 Female Athlete of the Year, which is the third AP award for Williams, following 2002 and 2009.

The current women's world number one, who has won 11 titles this year including at the French Open and US Open and raising her Grand Slam championship total to 17, has earned more than12 million dollars in prize money and became the oldest No. 1 in WTA rankings history in February.

According to CBS News, Williams received 55 of 96 votes, while Brittney Griner, a two-time AP Player of the Year in college basketball and the No. 1 pick in April's WNBA draft, finished second with 14 and swimmer Missy Franklin was next with 10.

The Male Athlete of the Year recipient will be announced on Thursday, with the report adding that only two women have been chosen more often as AP Athlete of the Year since the annual awards were first handed out in 1931.