Serena Williams: award caps year of growth 'on and off court' Serena Williams on Tuesday said being given Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year award caps a year in which she has grown "on and off the court", highlighting her return to Indian Wells for the first time since 2001 when she claims she was racially insulted by the crowd. Golfer Jack Nicklaus was given the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, and said he thinks Tiger Woods is "too good a competitor not to come back". IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES