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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 27: Naomi Osaka of Japan walks out on to court prior to her during her Women’s Singles first round match against Anna Blinkova of Russia on day two of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 27: Naomi Osaka of Japan walks out on to court prior to her during her Women’s Singles first round match against Anna Blinkova of Russia on day two of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on August 27, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
As tennis expands its wings around the world, some stars in particular continue to mint the millions. Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams have been two mavericks on the women’s circuit, putting the sport and themselves on the map. Osaka in particular, has become a global sensation. In the recently released Forbes list of highest paid female athletes, the Japanese star ranked No.1 again.
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Tennis – Australian Open – Women’s Singles Final – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Japan’s Naomi Osaka celebrates with the trophy after winning her final match against Jennifer Brady of the U.S. REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
For the second year in a row, Osaka outweighed the great Serena Williams in the list. It is estimated that she earned over $60 million, with close to 90% of this coming through brand deals. Following her on the list is Serena Williams, who has reportedly earned around $41.5 million. The two tennis phenoms are not just superstars on the court, but huge celebrities off the court too. As a result of these figures, Naomi Osaka earned herself a small achievement.
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No female athlete has earned more than Naomi Osaka in the past 2 years
Back in 2020, the rest of the field may have had some changes, but the 23-year-old continued to find herself on top of the Forbes list. The 4-time major winner was #1 in the earnings hierarchy for two years in a row. She earned a whopping $37.4 million last year, landing endorsements with Louis Vuitton, Mastercard, Nike, and many other top brands. This adds up to a cumulative total of almost $100 million over the past couple of years.
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This means that in the course of the last two years, no female athlete has earned as much as Japan’s Naomi Osaka. Ahead of the US Open 2021, she has topped the charts yet again. With her worldwide appeal, she is proving why she is one of the most coveted sports stars in the world. 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams is a far second, and continues to shine bright. In 2020, Serena earned around $36 million.
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Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, February 18, 2021 Japan’s Naomi Osaka with Serena Williams of the U.S. after winning their semi final match REUTERS/Kelly Defina
Naomi Osaka’s rise has been phenomenal to watch. At such a young age, she has grown into an icon who is respected all around the world. It is a great achievement for a great athlete. Aside from her on-court skills, she has landed another feather in her cap!
