Maria Sharapova Named Richest Sportswoman in the World

Maria Sharapova has been named the richest sportswoman in the world during the past year, according to Forbes.

Sharapova earned $29m (£18.9m) ending June this year while the American magazine also placed seven of the 10 richest sportswomen in the world as tennis players

The Russian secured majority of her money off the court in endorsement deals worth $23m dwarfing the $6m she collected in prize-money.

Much of her income came from sportswear manufacturers Head and Nike, while the 26-year-old has also launched her own brand of sweets called Sugarpova.

Second in the list of leading female earners was Serena Williams of the United States ($20.5m), followed by China’s Li Na ($18.2m) and Victoria Azarenka of Belarus ($15.7m).

Other tennis players in the top 10 are Caroline Wozniacki ($13.6m), Agnieszka Radwanska ($7.4m) and Ana Ivanovic ($7m).

The only three non-tennis players in the women’s top-10 are American Nascar driver Danica Patrick ($15m), South Korean figure skater Kim Yuna ($14m) and US golfer Paula Creamer ($5.5m).

Sharapova earned more than male tennis counterparts Novak Djokovic ($26.9m) and Rafa Nadal ($26.4m).

However, her yearly earnings were bettered by 21 men, with American golfer Tiger Woods the highest paid athlete on the planet with $78.1m of which $65m came from endorsements.

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer ($71.5m) is second followed by American bastkeball player Kobe Bryant ($61.9m).

Overall, only three women – Sharapova, Williams and Na – made the overall top-100.

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