MARIA’S IN THE MONEY

THE world No 1 and arguably the greatest ever woman player, Serena Williams has earned more money from the sport than any other — except one. Her total prize money to date comes to £44.6 million, with another £11.7 million on top from endorsements, her fashion line and a stake in the Miami Dolphins American football team (pictured), taking her total earnings to £56.3 million. She recently added a deal with watchmakers Audemars Piguet, and is being used by Pepsi, the parent company of her sponsors Gatorade, in a new campaign. However, Forbes magazine says Sharapova’s massive endorsement haul puts her at the top of their list of the world’s highest-paid female athletes. She has won £20 million in her career but earns more than £16 million a year from endorsements from sponsors such as Nike, Tag Heuer, Evian and Porsche, and has her own range of sweets, Sugarpova. Sports writer David Nicholson told me: ‘The decision to live in Florida had an impact on her phenomenal ability to earn. She is also a strong negotiator. Add that to her model looks and she is able to use her media-friendly exterior to further her commercial agenda. ‘Unlike Anna Kournikova, who came before her, she is one of the top tier of tennis players and has been for a decade, so people respect her as an athlete as well.’ Nigel Currie, of Brand Rapport, a sports marketing agency, added: ‘She is what women’s tennis was waiting for. She is a marketer’s dream. There are not that many female stars in world sport who can come close to her.’