Serena Williams wins ESPYS for Best Female Athlete and Tennis Player

Serena Williams was awarded last night with two ESPYS. World Nº1 player took home the trophy for Best Female Athlete of 2012, leaving behind tough competition such as Olympic champions Missy Franklyn and Gabby Douglas. Miss Williams had already won this award back in 2003. 

Video of ESPYS Awards including @serenawilliams female athlete of the year. http://t.co/TCZxthd16C http://t.co/uhLrckYS68
— Patrick Mouratoglou (@pmouratoglou) July 18, 2013

Serena - who won two Grand Slams in 2012 (US Open and Wimbledon) and two Gold medals at the London Olympics (in singles and doubles) - also got the ESPYS for Best Female Tennis Player. Venus's younger sister is in Sweden playing a tournament and the award was accepted for her by actor Jason Sudeikis. 

Aww yeah! @serenawilliams won #ESPYS Best Female Athlete, it was some tough competition, so proud of lil sis :)
— Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams) July 18, 2013

Novak Djokovic couldn't attend the ceremony too despite being the winner of the ESPYS for Best Male Tennis Player for the second year in a row. Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova were the only tennis players attending the event. 

ESPYS red carpet: Azarenka in black, Sharapova goes for sparkling silver

It's ESPYS's night! Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka, both nominated for Best Female Tennis Player,  made their walk down the red carpet and got their pictures snapped by the paparazzi. Vika showed up at the event with her plus one LMFAO's Redfoo. 

Victoria Azarenka on her way to the ESPYS...looking gorgeous, by the way.
(via Azarenka's Instagram)

Photo: Nacion ESPN (Instagram)

Redfoo and Vika (via Azarenka's Instagram)

Maria Sharapova chose a black and silver J. Mendel gown for the cerimony. Masha arrived alone but once inside the Nokia Theatre she enjoyed the company of  Le Bron James and Colin Kaepernick. :)

@mariasharapova looking beautiful on the red carpet #espys best dressed? pic.twitter.com/4i39Yq1BxR
— ESPN Images (@ESPNImages) July 18, 2013

Maria Sharapova is very rarely a fashion miss, but I can't say this #ESPY Awards number is a hit. #tennis pic.twitter.com/cO8UmS9Jyv
— Romi Cvitkovic (@RomiCvitkovic) July 18, 2013

One dash Sugarpova, a little @AdrianPeterson & BACON = a recipe for backstage @OldSpice photo booth success. #ESPYS pic.twitter.com/z7zSz644Xd
— ESPYS 2013 (@ESPYS) July 18, 2013

Kaepernick, next to Maria (GETTY) pic.twitter.com/bJqoV9KDbQ
— Joe Fleming (@ByJoeFleming) July 18, 2013

Everybody, I mean everybody, wants to say hi to Maria (even LeBron) (GETTY) pic.twitter.com/HMZFGbAZcf
— Joe Fleming (@ByJoeFleming) July 18, 2013

Serena Williams leads tennis players nominations for 2013 ESPYS

Serena Williams got two nominations for the 21th annual ESPY Awards, which recognizes last years major sports achievements, best moments and leading players and performances. World Nº1 WTA player, who brought home in 2012 a Gold Medal from London Olympics and two Grand Slam titles (Wimbledon and US Open), is nominated for Best Female Athlete and Best Female Tennis Player. Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka are the other nominees for Best Female Tennis Player.

Novak Djokovic is once again nominated for Best International Athlete alongside last year's winner football player Lionel Messi. Also competing for this prize are Cristiano Ronaldo, Usain Bolt and boxer Juan Manuel Marquez. Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal compete with the Serbian in the Best Male Tennis Player category, which Nole won for the first time in 2012. Roger Federer is a six-time winner of the ESPYs - from 2005 to 2010 - and Rafael Nadal got his first award in 2011.

Britain's pride and joy Andy Murray books a place in a special category: Best Moment. The Brit won his first major title at the Olympics, which were played at Wimbledon, but will have tough competition from other unforgettable events such as Alex Morgan's goal in the Olympics women's football semifinal.

Fans will determine the winners in all ESPY categories (except the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and other special awards) by voting online at ESPN. Voting ends July 17 9 p.m. ET.

The 21th annual ESPY Awards will take place at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, USA, on July 17, 2013. Mad Men's Jon Hamm will be the host and will be joined by Ben Affleck and Le Bron James who are confirmed as presenters of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award and the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.

Sharapova, Djokovic take home 2012 ESPYS

Maria Sharapova and Novak Djokovic won the 2012 ESPYs for Best Female Tennis Player and Best Male Tennis Player at the awards show on July 11, in Los Angeles. But let's focus on the red carpet, where tennis star Daniela Hantuchova and Sharapova herself shined like no other. 

Maria Sharapova wore a stunning light blue J. Mendell gown.

Daniela Hantuchova shared on Facebook her preparation for the Body Issue party and the ESPYS party. Her dresses were both from Jovani. 

Photos via Tumblr and Hantuchova's Facebook page. 

Djokovic and Sharapova get three nominations for 2012 ESPYS

Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova received each three nominations in key categories at the 20th annual ESPY Awards, which will take place at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, USA, on July 11, 2012.

Djokovic was recognized for his stunning run in 2011 with a nomination for Best Male Athlete. "The Serbian won three Grand Slam titles and a record five ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crowns en route to finishing the season ranked No. 1 in the year-end South African Airways ATP Rankings", says ATP Tour on its website. NBA Finals MVP LeBron James, NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and MLB MVP and Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander are competing with Djokovic in this category, which was never awarded to a tennis player. 

Vote for Best Male Athlete!

Fans will determine the winners in all ESPY categories (except the Arthur Ashe Courage Award and other special awards) by voting online at ESPN. 
World number one is also nominated for Best International Athlete, along with footballers Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and golfer Yani Tseng.

Vote for Best International Athlete!

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal compete with the Serbian in the Best Male Tennis Player category. Roger Federer is a six-timer winner of the ESPYs from 2005-2010 and Rafael Nadal got his first award last year.

Vote for Best Male Tennis Player!

Maria Sharapova also gets three nominations: Best Female Athlete, Best Comeback Athlete and Best Female Tennis Player, along with fellow nominees Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitová and Samantha Stosur.

Help Sharapova win Best Female Athlete and/or Best Comeback Athlete!

Vote for Best Female Tennis Player!

The 2012 ESPYS will be hosted by actor/comedian Rob Riggle and will be televised live Wednesday, July 11, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPNHD from the Nokia Theatre at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles.