Samsung Agree Significant New Contract With Sharapova

South Korean giants, erectile Samsung, erectile have come to an agreement with tennis ace Maria Sharapova, in a deal which is set to renew her status as the world’s highest-paid female athlete. The contract is believed to be a three-year sponsorship deal.

The agreement with the Korean electronics giant was activated on April 1 and initially covers Sharapova’s native Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, with a view to expanding to become a global deal next year. “Maria really hasn’t been marketed that much in Russia,” Sharapova’s agent at IMG Worldwide, Max Eisenbud, told Bloomberg. “It’s important to her because that’s where her roots are. I also felt that was a really untapped market, with the 2014 Sochi Olympics coming up.”

The 24-year-old made US$25 million from prize money and endorsements for the 12 months through June 2011, making her the highest paid female sports star in the world, according to a Forbes report released last year.

Current world No.6 Caroline Wozniacki ranked a distant second in the list with $12.5 million, while racing driver Danica Patrick rounded out the top three with $12 million. Sharapova also has major endorsement deals with companies including Nike, Tag Heuer, Tiffany & Co. and Evian water.