No luck for Caster as she loses out to Serena

Middle-distance runner Caster Semenya lost out on another international accolade on Tuesday night, with American tennis player Serena Williams being named Sportswoman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

The world and Olympic 800m champion, unbeaten in her specialist event over the last two years, was one of six nominees in line for the accolade, and she had hoped to become the first South African woman to get the nod.

While Semenya was named Sportswoman of the Year at the SA Sports Awards in 2016 and 2017, this was the third year in a row she was snubbed from global recognition.

After being overlooked for an IAAF World Athlete of the Year nomination in 2016, she was included among the nominees for the 2017 IAAF accolade in a campaign which included a 600m world best of 1:21.77 and a national 800m record which lifted her to eighth place in the all-time list. She was omitted, however, from the shortlist of finalists.

Williams, meanwhile, earned her 23rd career Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open before taking maternity leave.

In other categories at the Laureus gala in Monaco on Tuesday, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer was named Sportsman of the Year and received the Comeback of the Year accolade after lifting two Grand Slam trophies last season to end a five-year drought.

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