Belarus' Azarenka among world's highest-earning tennis players
World No 2 Victoria Azaranka is the fourth on the Forbes fortune list earning $15.7 million a year.
Another tennis player Maria Sharapova is Russia tops the list with $29 million. $6 million is the prize money, while the rest was made on from sponsor contracts.
$7.9 million out of Victoria Azarenka’s $15 million 700 thousand is the prize money (the record result was achieved in 2012), the rest was made on long-term sponsor contracts and advertising. The Belarusian player signed a contract with Red Bull in January, Forbes notes.
The second and third positions are also occupied by tennis players – American Serena Williams ($20.5 million) and Chinese Li Na ($18.2 million). American racing driver Danica Patrick is in the fifth position with $15 million.
According to Forbes, sportswomen still make less money than men. Tennis is the only exception – the income is on the same level there.
Photo: Reuters