After failing in the opening round of the French Open - the first time in her carrer- American Serena Williams went on to make 2012 her own by winning her 14th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon before teaming up with sister Venus for the doubles crown too. She then won Olympic gold medals (singles, and doubles withVenus) in style to become only the second woman after Steffy Graf to complete the career golden slam and the first woman to win all four majors and the Olympic gold in doubles.
The blonde Bela russian began another impressive and lucrative year-she earned just under $8 million - on Tour by winning the Australian Open and rightfully claimed her place as world No. 1 in the process. Her women's singles gold in London was her nation's first Olympic medal in tennis.
The Russian beauty became just the sixth woman in the open era to complete the carrer slam when she triumphed at the French Open. An Olympic silver in her first Games and the fact that she briefly regaine the world No.1 ranking made sure will remain a force going into 2013.