Serena Williams is 2009 AP Female Athlete of Year

Serena Williams is a landslide choice for Female Athlete of the Year by members of The Associated Press.

Williams received 66 of 158 votes cast by editors at U.S. newspapers that are members of the AP. No one else got more than 18 votes in the tally announced Tuesday.

She returned to No. 1 in the rankings, smashed the WTA record for prize money, won three significant singles titles -- Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the season-ending tour championships -- and paired with sister Venus to add three Grand Slam doubles championships.

Runner-up in the AP voting was Zenyatta, who capped a 14-0 career by becoming the first female horse to win the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Tennis' Kim Clijsters finished third with 16 votes.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)