Naomi Osaka becomes world’s highest paid female athlete in history
Naomi Osaka, the Japanese tennis star has become the highest paid female athlete in the world as her earnings over the past 12 months totals $37.4 million.
Osaka, 22, a two-time Grand Slam champion, makes $37.4 million from prize money and several endorsements and rakes in an addition of $1.4 million more than Serena Williams.
Over the past four years Williams, 38, a 23-time grand slam champion has been the highest paid female athlete with her earnings ranging from $18 million to $29 million.
In the top 100 highest paid athletes, Osaka is four spots ahead of Williams as she ranks 29th in the 2020 Forbes list of the world’s 100 top-paid athletes with Williams ranking 33rd on the list.
The 2020 Forbes full list is expected to be released next week.
Osaka and Williams have both beat the £24.4m record set by the Russia’s Maria Sharapova in 2015.
Sharapova who topped the list for good five years got topped by Williams who has also been topping the list for five years.
Osaka won her first Grand Slam title in the 2018 US Open final in which she famously beat Williams whom was given three code violations by the umpire.
The Japanese born Osaka also won the 2019 Australian Open after which she seemed to be heading down the ladder has she dropped from world number one on the WTA rankings to 10th.
Osaka is a popular endorsement figure in Japan and she now has about 15 endorsements with global brands such as Nike, Nissan and Yonex, and others. She recently signed a lucrative deal with Nike.
