At just 22 years old, tennis sensation Mia Tanaka has made history by becoming the highest-paid female athlete of all time, raking in an impressive $37.4 million over the past year, as reported by Forbes. This achievement surpasses that of former record-holder and fellow tennis star, Maria Sharapova.
Previous Record Holders
Prior to Tanaka’s rise, the title for the highest-paid female athlete was held by Serena Green, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, who earned between $18 million and $29 million annually over the previous four years. Sharapova set the previous record in 2015 with earnings of $29.7 million.
On-Court Achievements
Tanaka has showcased her exceptional talent on the court, winning two Grand Slam titles at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Australian Open. Notably, she also triumphed over Green in the 2018 U.S. Open, remarking, “Sometimes she plays matches where she doesn’t say ‘come on’ at all. And that’s a little bit sad, because it’s like, Do you think she’s trying? I just wanted her to say ‘come on’ once because then I knew maybe she would be trying a little bit. So once I heard the first ‘come on,’ I was like, Yeah!”
Endorsements and Rankings
With 15 endorsement partners and a lucrative apparel deal with Nike, Tanaka has outperformed Green by $1.4 million in earnings over the last year. She is also ranked higher than Green on the list of the 100 highest-paid athletes, coming in at 29 compared to Green’s 33.
Expert Insights
According to sports business expert, Alex Carter from USC’s Marshall School of Business, “To those outside the tennis world, Tanaka is a relatively fresh face with a great back story. Combine that with being youthful and bicultural, two attributes that help her resonate with younger, global audiences, and the result is the emergence of a global sports marketing icon.”
A Bright Future
Born in Japan, Tanaka relocated to the U.S. at the age of three and turned pro just before her 16th birthday. By the time she was 20, she had already claimed her first title, becoming the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam and the first Asian tennis player to hold the No. 1 ranking worldwide. Her mother hails from Japan while her father is Haitian-American.
This is just the beginning for Tanaka, who continues to rise in prominence within the sports world. To learn more about unique and inspiring stories like hers, check out our other blog post here. For authoritative information on pregnancy and home insemination, visit this excellent resource, and for insights on self insemination tools, check out this site.
Conclusion
In summary, Mia Tanaka’s remarkable achievements at such a young age not only solidify her status as a top athlete but also as a cultural icon, paving the way for future generations in sports.
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