Naomi Osaka maybe isn’t the No.1 tennis player in the world anymore, but she recently got an even more lucrative title. According to Forbes magazine, Osaka is now the highest-earning female athlete in the world.

Forbes estimates that Osaka earned around $37.4 million in the past 12 months from tournament prizes, endorsement deals, and other appearances. With this kind of money in the bank, the 22-year-old Japanese managed to top the legendary Serena Williams, who netted $36 million during the same period. She also cracked the overall list of highest-earning athletes, sitting at No. 29.

In each of the previous four years, Williams ranked first on the list of highest-earning female athletes each time.

Naomi Osaka overtook the No.1 position with a combination of tennis-generated incomes and lucrative sponsorship deals. Osaka had much success on the court in the last two years, winning US Open and Australian Open titles while ranking high on other tournaments. Additionally, she became the face for a number of high-profile brands, like Procter & Gamble, All Nippon Airways, and Nissin.

The post Naomi Osaka Tops Serena Williams as Highest-Earning Female Athlete appeared first on SportzBonanza.

20-year-old Naomi Osaka beat 2017 first runners-up Madison Keys 6-2, 6-4 in the US Open semi-finals to book a surreal final with her idol Serena Williams on Saturday. Osaka becomes the first Japanese woman to reach the finals of a Grand Slam in the Open Era.

As a child, the 20-era-old dreamt of playing her idol Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion. After subduing last year’s finalist Madison Keys, Osaka has the chance of her lifetime. A win over Williams will make the Japanese the first woman in her country to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era.

“It feels a little bit surreal. Even when I was a little Kid I always dreamed that I would play Serena in a final of a Grand Slam,” Osaka said. “Just the fact that it’s happening, I’m very happy about it.”

While Osaka’s victory over Keys was hard-fought, Williams’ was flawless. The No. 17 seeded started on a shaky mode, but once comfortable, she contained Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-0 comfortably.

History is on the line for both players. A win for Osaka will be her first Grand Slam. Serena William stares at her 24^th Grand Slam. A victory over the 20-year-old will make her equal Margaret Court’s record 24 Grand Slams.

The 6-time US Open champion heads to this year’s final on a familiar territory. But that doesn’t make things easy for her. Osaka has been on a splendid run and is excited to face her idol.

The post 20-Year-Old Osaka to Play Her Idol Serena Williams in a Dream US Open Final appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The return of Serena Williams to competitive tennis isn’t going as planned so far. After she and her sister Venus suffered a defeat in the first round of Fed Cup, Serena also had an early exit at the Miami Open on Wednesday. The 36-year-old was defeated 6-3, 6-2 in the tournament’s first round by 22nd WTA ranked Naomi Osaka.

The 20-year-old Osaka entered the match fresh from winning her first ATP title at the Indian Wells. After the match against Williams, Osaka said that she was nervous playing her and that she just wanted to avoid being swept by her idol.

“She’s the main reason I started playing tennis,” – said Osaka. “I just wanted her after the match to know who I am. She said ‘good job’ and stuff. I kind of blanked out, but I’m pretty sure she said ‘good job.‘”

Naomi Osaka, who has a 14-4 record this year, will face the fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina in the next round.

This was just the fifth time that Serena Williams was eliminated in the first round of a singles tournament in her career with the last time being at the 2012’s French Open. Williams has won the Miami Open record eight times.

After winning the 2017 Australian Open, Serena Williams revealed that she is expecting a baby and took a break from competitive tennis. She gave birth to a daughter named Alexis Olympia in September 2017. Although it was rumored she will make an appearance at the 2018 edition of Australian Open, Williams decided to skip the tournament, citing a lack of sufficient preparation. Her first competitive tennis match came in February, when she and Venus suffered a 6–2, 6–3 defeat to Lesley Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs in Fed Cup.

The post Serena Williams Defeated by Naomi Osaka In the First Round of Miami Open appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Naomi Osaka maybe isn’t the No.1 tennis player in the world anymore, but she recently got an even more lucrative title. According to Forbes magazine, Osaka is now the highest-earning female athlete in the world.

Forbes estimates that Osaka earned around $37.4 million in the past 12 months from tournament prizes, endorsement deals, and other appearances. With this kind of money in the bank, the 22-year-old Japanese managed to top the legendary Serena Williams, who netted $36 million during the same period. She also cracked the overall list of highest-earning athletes, sitting at No. 29.

In each of the previous four years, Williams ranked first on the list of highest-earning female athletes each time.

Naomi Osaka overtook the No.1 position with a combination of tennis-generated incomes and lucrative sponsorship deals. Osaka had much success on the court in the last two years, winning US Open and Australian Open titles while ranking high on other tournaments. Additionally, she became the face for a number of high-profile brands, like Procter & Gamble, All Nippon Airways, and Nissin.

The post Naomi Osaka Tops Serena Williams as Highest-Earning Female Athlete appeared first on SportzBonanza.

20-year-old Naomi Osaka beat 2017 first runners-up Madison Keys 6-2, 6-4 in the US Open semi-finals to book a surreal final with her idol Serena Williams on Saturday. Osaka becomes the first Japanese woman to reach the finals of a Grand Slam in the Open Era.

As a child, the 20-era-old dreamt of playing her idol Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion. After subduing last year’s finalist Madison Keys, Osaka has the chance of her lifetime. A win over Williams will make the Japanese the first woman in her country to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era.

“It feels a little bit surreal. Even when I was a little Kid I always dreamed that I would play Serena in a final of a Grand Slam,” Osaka said. “Just the fact that it’s happening, I’m very happy about it.”

While Osaka’s victory over Keys was hard-fought, Williams’ was flawless. The No. 17 seeded started on a shaky mode, but once comfortable, she contained Anastasija Sevastova 6-3, 6-0 comfortably.

History is on the line for both players. A win for Osaka will be her first Grand Slam. Serena William stares at her 24^th Grand Slam. A victory over the 20-year-old will make her equal Margaret Court’s record 24 Grand Slams.

The 6-time US Open champion heads to this year’s final on a familiar territory. But that doesn’t make things easy for her. Osaka has been on a splendid run and is excited to face her idol.

The post 20-Year-Old Osaka to Play Her Idol Serena Williams in a Dream US Open Final appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The return of Serena Williams to competitive tennis isn’t going as planned so far. After she and her sister Venus suffered a defeat in the first round of Fed Cup, Serena also had an early exit at the Miami Open on Wednesday. The 36-year-old was defeated 6-3, 6-2 in the tournament’s first round by 22nd WTA ranked Naomi Osaka.

The 20-year-old Osaka entered the match fresh from winning her first ATP title at the Indian Wells. After the match against Williams, Osaka said that she was nervous playing her and that she just wanted to avoid being swept by her idol.

“She’s the main reason I started playing tennis,” – said Osaka. “I just wanted her after the match to know who I am. She said ‘good job’ and stuff. I kind of blanked out, but I’m pretty sure she said ‘good job.‘”

Naomi Osaka, who has a 14-4 record this year, will face the fourth-seeded Elina Svitolina in the next round.

This was just the fifth time that Serena Williams was eliminated in the first round of a singles tournament in her career with the last time being at the 2012’s French Open. Williams has won the Miami Open record eight times.

After winning the 2017 Australian Open, Serena Williams revealed that she is expecting a baby and took a break from competitive tennis. She gave birth to a daughter named Alexis Olympia in September 2017. Although it was rumored she will make an appearance at the 2018 edition of Australian Open, Williams decided to skip the tournament, citing a lack of sufficient preparation. Her first competitive tennis match came in February, when she and Venus suffered a 6–2, 6–3 defeat to Lesley Kerkhove and Demi Schuurs in Fed Cup.

The post Serena Williams Defeated by Naomi Osaka In the First Round of Miami Open appeared first on SportzBonanza.