2013: The Year of Serena Williams

Williams capped a career year in style Sunday, earning her 11th title by coming from behind to beat Li Na 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 for her second straight WTA Championships crown. Williams became the eighth woman to win 11 or more titles in a year and the first since Martina Hingis had 12 in 1997. The American also is the first to repeat as champion at the season-ending WTA Championships since Justine Henin in 2007.

"It was an awesome year of tennis," said Williams, who sank to her knees after firing a backhand winner on her second match point.

The victory brought Williams' prize money total for the year to $12,385,572. The only player, male or female, to earn more in a year was Novak Djokovic with $12,803,737 in 2012 and $12,619,803 in 2011. Williams won the event for the fourth time, having captured the elite tournament for the top eight players also in her debut in 2001 and in 2009 and 2012.

Williams has won 78 of 82 matches this year and will finish the year as the top-ranked player for the third time in her career after 2002 and 2009. Williams' titles this year included the French and U.S. Opens for a total of 17 Grand Slam crowns. Her winning percentage of .951 is the best on the tour since 1990. Martina Navratilova had an 86-1 record and a .989 percentage in 1983.

Williams has three of the four highest-earning seasons in WTA history and is the sport’s career top-earner with $53.9 million, which is 86% higher than her older sister Venus, who ranks second. The highest-earning female golfer in the history of the LPGA is Annika Sorenstam, who made $22.6 million during her career.

Off the court, Williams has cut back on her traditional endorsement commitments in recent years in favor of equity deals with HSN, Sleep Sheets, Mission and the Miami Dolphins. She still pulls in $12 million annually from exhibitions and sponsors Nike, Wilson, Gatorade and OPI. Her Nike deal includes significant bonuses for Grand Slam victories. Williams continues to have a huge platform to speak from as the most dominant female player in tennis.

Williams’ career was in jeopardy when she missed nearly a full year recovering from a foot injury and a pulmonary embolism during 2010 and 2011, but she has bounced back stronger than ever. Williams is the ultimate closer in sports winning all but four of her 21 Grand Slam singles finals, as well as all 13 doubles finals with Venus.