Forbes reports that eight of the world's Top 10 highest-paid female athletes are tennis players. Serena Williams heads Forbes’ list of the highest-paid female athletes of 2018, despite the fact that the American has only earned $62K of prize money in the 12-month period that ended on June 1, 2018.


Tennis players make up eight of the Top 10 on the list, with Indian badminton player P.V. Sindhu seventh on the list and American race car driver Danica Patrick coming in at nine.

Here are where the eight tennis players rank in the Top 10.

1. Serena Williams — Total earnings: $18.1 million ($62k Prize money, $18m endorsements)

2. Caroline Wozniacki — Total earnings: $13 million ($7 million prize money, $6 million endorsements)

3. Sloane Stephens — Total earnings: $11.2 million ($5.7 million prize money, $5.5 million endorsements)

4. Garbine Muguruza — Total earnings: $11 million ($5.5 million prize money, $5.5 million endorsements)

5. Maria Sharapova — Total earnings: $10.5 million ($1 million prize money, $9.5 million endorsements)

6. Venus Williams — Total earnings: $10.2 million ($4.2 million prize money, $6 million endorsements)

8. Simona Halep — Total earnings: $7.7 million ($6.2 million prize money, $1.5 million endorsements)

10. Angelique Kerber — Total earnings: $7 million ($3 million prize money, $4 million endorsements)

Williams has more than a dozen sponsors, including Nike, JPMorgan Chase, Lincoln, Gatorade and Beats. According to Forbes, only 16 athletes made more than Williams over the past 12 months from endorsements–she made twice as much off the court as any other female athlete.

Tennis Express

Forbes reports that Sharapova is still down more than 50 percent after the fallout from her 16-month suspension for taking a banned substance. The Russian ranks fifth this year at $10.5 million, but only only earned $1 million in the time period.

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