Naomi Osaka Dethrones Serena Williams To Become Highest-Paid Female Athlete

Naomi Osaka has become the highest-paid female athlete ever.  According to Forbes, she will make $37.4 million in 2020.

Not only is that historic, but she has also dethroned Serena Williams on the money charts.  Serena Williams was the highest-paid athlete for the last four years.

Osaka, who is only 22 is likely to be one of the highest-paid athletes for many years.  With Maria Sharapova retired and Serena Williams approaching retirement, it’s Brand Osaka’s turn.

To be honest, it’s not surprising. Osaka, who now represents Japan after giving up her US citizenship in 2019, is a star in Japan. Japan is a developed economy with many companies willing to sponsor top athletes.

 

With the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, Japanese stars such as Kei Nishikori and Naomi Osaka are in high demand as brands are interested in signing them to represent their brands on the world stage.

Osaka is represented by powerhouse IMG.  IMG also represents Maria Sharapova, Kei Nishikori, and Serena Williams. 

Osaka’s Sponsors List

Osaka has sponsorship deals with Japanese brands as well as global brands such as Nike.  When her previous shoe and apparel deal with Under Armor came up for renewal,  Nike had stiff competition with Under Armor and Japanese fast retailer Uniqlo before prevailing.

In an unusual move for Nike, Osaka was allowed to wear patches of other brands on her clothing.  I am sure that was part of the concession Nike had to make to sign up Osaka.

Osaka’s sponsors include:

  • Nike
  • Nissin
  • Nissan
  • Citizen
  • Yonex
  • WOWOW
  • ANA (All Nippon Airways)
  • Shiseido
  • Mastercard

Serena Dethroned, Not For The First Time

Serena Williams has won more grand slam titles than Osaka.  But Serena has had difficulty converting her on-court accomplishments into lucrative sponsorship deals to keep the top spot.

Between 2011 and 2015, Maria Sharapova earned more than Serena with fewer grand slam titles.  This goes to show that winning major titles alone does not guarantee the top spot on tennis’ money list.

Osaka is Humble and Likeable

Osaka is very shy. and often gives short answers to interview questions.  She has talked about how she is lost for words when she meets someone for the first time.  But she has grown immensely as a person and is well-liked on the tour.

Sponsors like her ability to connect with young fans.  Osaka is active on Instagram and Twitter and engages with fans frequently. 

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What Shoes Does Stefanos Tsitsipas Wear?

Stefanos Tsitsipas currently wears the Adidas Solecourt Boost shoes on the court.  Tsitsipas has a sponsorship deal with Adidas.  So he also wears Adidas apparel.

As one of the young rising stars, Tsitsipas features prominently in many Adidas promotions.  With a strong following on social media, he is one of tennis’ most effective social media influencers.

Tsitsipas has yet to win a grand slam but he reached the finals at the 2021 French Open where he lost to Novak Djokovic. He has also reached the semifinals at the Australian Open multiple times. Many expect that it is only a matter of time before Tsitsipas wins a grand slam title. 

Stefanos Tsitsipas Wears Solecourt Boost Shoes

Solecourt Boost shoes are super comfortable shoes and provide good stability.  The shoes offer good traction on the court.  They are durable and will last you a long time.

The cushioning in the midsole and the memory foam-like material around the ankle collar gives you a comfortable fit. 

The shoe uppers are made of lightweight material and are breathable. So these shoes are ideal if you play in hot weather.

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Tsitsipas’ “Shoe-Gate”

In 2019, Tsitsipas got in trouble with fellow players on the court for frequently breaking laces and having to change shoes in the middle of the game.  Benoit Paire and Nick Kyrgios have accused him of gamesmanship.

To help Tsitsipas, Adidad introduced “laceless” shoes.  Though they are called “laceless”, in fact, it does include laces.

The new shoes use BOA dial laces, which give athletes better control in adjusting the amount of space needed for the foot inside the shoe.

New Tsitsipas shoes’ BOA dial laces run underneath an outer layer and hence aren’t prone to being scraped off.  Athletes can twist the dial below and the lace tightens or loosens.

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