Naomi Osaka Becomes World's Highest-Paid Female Athlete

Japanese tennis ace Naomi Osaka has overtaking Serena Williams to become the world's highest-paid athlete with total earnings of $37.4m (£30.7m) in the year 2019.

Naomi rose to fame in tennis when she became the first Japanese player ever to win a Grand Slam which she did at the US Open in 2018 with a stunning victory over Serene Williams in the final. Earlier in the same season, she won her first WTA title at the Indian Wells Open.

According to Forbes, most of her earnings in the last 12 months are from tournaments prize money and endorsements. Serena fell short to trail in the second position by earning $1.4m lesser than the 22-year-old who set a new record for all-time highest earnings for a female athlete in a calendar year.

Serena, 38, who had held the highest-paid streak for four consecutive years, was trailed in the rankings by former world number one Maria Sharapova. The Russian announced her retirement from professional tennis in February.