Serena Williams has won the coveted Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year while Swiss Tennis legend Roger Federer won the male award at a glittering ceremony in Monaco today, beating the likes of Caster Semenya and other female stars in the process.

Williams, who is currently absent from the WTA circuit after giving birth to a baby girl in September last year, won the accolade from Olympic champion Semenya, Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza, 16-time world athletics championship medalist Allyson Felix, 19-year-old swimming sensation Katie Ledecky and World Cup champion skier Mikaela Shiffrin.

Williams has won 23 Grand Slam titles during the course of her career with her last coming at the 2017 Australian Open.

Meanwhile the 1984 and 1988 Olympic 400 meters Hurdles gold medalist Edwin Moses won the Laureus Lifetime achievement award.