![Naomi Osaka of Japan earned Ksh4.1 billion in one year, making her the world’s highest-paid sportswoman in 2019/2020. [PHOTO | COURTESY]](https://k24.digital/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/NAOMI-OSAKA.jpg)
The world’s nine highest-earning sportswomen over the past year are all tennis players, according to research by US business magazine Forbes.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka tops the list with earnings of $37.4m (Ksh4.1 billion), ahead of Serena Williams with $36m (Ksh3.9 billion).
World number one Ashleigh Barty is third with income of $13.1m (Ksh1.4 billion).
United States international footballer Alex Morgan is the only athlete from outside tennis in the top 10, earning $4.6m (Ksh499 million).
Morgan, who gave birth to her first child in May, earned $4.2m (Ksh456 million) of her income through endorsements during the span of Forbes analysis – between 1 June 2019 and 1 June 2020.
The US women’s team, winners of the Women’s World Cup in July 2019, are currently in dispute with their federation, appealing against a judge’s decision to reject their claims of being underpaid compared with the US men’s team.
Osaka, 22, and Williams, 38, have both broken the previous record for annual earnings, set at $29.7m (Ksh3.2 billion) in 2015 by Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova.
In a list of the world’s 100 best-paid sportspeople published by Forbes in May, Osaka (29th) and Williams (33rd) were the only women.
Top 10 highest-earning sportswomen*
Rank Name Sport Earnings
1 Naomi Osaka Tennis $37.4m (Ksh4.1 billion)
2 Serena Williams Tennis $36m (Ksh3.9 billion)
3 Ashleigh Barty Tennis $13.1m (Ksh1.4 billion)
4 Simona Halep Tennis $10.9m (Ksh1.2 billion)
5 Bianca Andreescu Tennis $8.9m (Ksh965.7 million)
6 Garbine Muguruza Tennis $6.6m (Ksh716.1 million)
7 Elina Svitolina Tennis $6.4m (Ksh694.4 million)
8 Sofia Kenin Tennis $5.8m (Ksh629.3 million)
9 Angelique Kerber Tennis $5.3m (Ksh575.1 million)
10 Alex Morgan Football $4.6m (Ksh499.1 million)
*Between June 2019 and June 2020, according to Forbes
