(Image source from: DNA India)

Forbes has released the list of world’s highest-paid female athletes and surprisingly only one Indian athlete was named in the list, which was topped by ace tennis player Serena Williams.

India’s Badminton star P V Sindhu secured 13th places in the list with the total earnings of USD 5.5 million.

"Sindhu remains India's most marketable female athlete. She became the first Indian to win the season-ending BWF World Tour finals in 2018,” Forbes said.

Serena Williams topped the list with total earnings of USD 29.2 million.

According to Forbes, “Williams, 37, plans to play through at least next year but is already planning her next act with a clothing line, 'S by Serena', and designs to launch jewellery and beauty products lines by the end of 2020. She also has built a venture portfolio worth more than USD 10 million.”

Tennis player Naomi Osaka secured second spot with total earnings of USD 24.3 million. She won the 2018 U.S. Open, defeating Williams.

According to Forbes, “Its earnings tally looks at prize money, salaries, bonuses, endorsements and appearance fees between June 2018 and 2019. There are 15 female athletes who made at least USD 5 million during that time period; for comparison roughly 1,300 male athletes will hit that mark this year.”

Forbes added that tennis remains the most surefire way for female athletes to make millions of dollars. Female athletes in basketball, soccer, and softball earn salaries of pennies on the dollar compared with their male counterparts.

By Sowmya Sangam