The internationally-acclaimed men’s publication, understandably trying its best to appease a wider range of readers, picked the 37-year-old tennis champ as its Woman of the Year for 2018.

The honour — last won by actor Gal Gadot in 2017 — didn’t sit well with a number of ardent Serena fans, who took to social media to tear into GQ for placing quotation marks around the word “woman”.

Some critics claimed the use of the inverted commas were linked to ugly accusations surrounding the 23-time grand slam champion’s gender.

“Someone I follow pointed out that @GQMagazine decided to put woman in quotes on Serena’s cover and I too am offended and disgusted knowing the gender slights and digs people still throw at @serenawilliams,” one furious Twitter user posted.