Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka earned $37.4 million in prize money and endorsements and broke the all-time earnings record for a female athlete in a single year, Forbes reported Friday, May 22.
The 22-year-old Osaka bested the record previously held by Maria Sharapova, who earned $29.7 million in 2015, and ranks No. 29 among the 100 highest-paid athletes, the report said.
Also Read: Rio health officials chide Flamengo for restarting training
American tennis giant Serena Williams placed 33rd among the 100, earning $1.4 million less than Osaka. It is the first time since 2016 that two women have made the rankings for the top-paid athletes.
According to the report, Osaka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, received $10 million last year from sports equipment manufacturer Nike Inc. in a deal that runs through 2025.
Her 15 endorsement partners also include Nissan Motor Co., Shiseido Co., and Yonex Co., Forbes said.
Some companies have signed deals with Osaka to use her around marketing for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, now postponed to next year.
Osaka, whose parents are from Japan and Haiti, won the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Australian Open.
She became world No. 1 in the women’s singles rankings in January 2019 after winning her second Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, UEFA has a plan to finish the 2019/2020 season by August; including the Champions League and Europa League campaigns.
The majority of European league seasons were suspended in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic; but a few leagues have announced plans for a restart in the coming weeks.
The French and Dutch top-flight campaigns have been cancelled but the German Bundesliga restarted on Saturday and Ceferin expects at least 80 percent of national leagues to finish their seasons.
“We have an idea but we have to wait for the executive committee of UEFA to confirm the dates.
“I can say that the European season will be finished, if everything is as it is now, in August,” Ceferin said.
