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NEW YORK. — Tennis great Serena Williams has been named GQ’s Woman of the Year — but the magazine’s cover has caused a stir on social media, with many questioning why “Woman” was in quotes.

The 37-year-old, called “The Champion” by the magazine, features in one of four covers of the December issue wearing a black long-sleeve turtle-neck leotard.

“No matter how you cut it, Serena Williams had a remarkable year,” the magazine said of its choice to include the American alongside its Men of the Year, actors Michael B Jordan, Henry Golding and Jonah Hill.

In February, Williams told CNN she almost died giving birth to her daughter last year, yet within months she was back training and returned to the sport earlier this year, reaching both the Wimbledon and US Open finals.

Chasing a record-equaling 24th major, Williams lost in both finals, falling to a straight-sets defeat to Anqelique Kerber at Wimbledon and a controversial loss to Naomi Osaka at Flushing Meadows, where she was docked a game after calling the umpire a “thief.” — CNN Sport.