NEW YORK — Tennis star Maria Sharapova again tops the list of highest earning female athletes over the past year, according to Forbes. For the 11th consecutive year, the Russian heads a list dominated by tennis players, who occupy seven of the top 10 spots. The 28-year-old Sharapova, who won the French Open last year, collected $6.7 million in prize money, but her total estimated earnings were $29.7 million, according to Forbes. The Forbes list also includes earnings from appearances, licensing and endorsements, personal business interests and, in some cases, salary. World No. 1 tennis player Serena Williams is second at $24.6 million, while motor racing driver Danica Patrick is the top non-tennis player, in fourth place with $13.9 million. The only other non-tennis players in the top 10 are number eight Ronda Rousey (mixed martial arts) and number nine Stacy Lewis (golf). Tennis is one of the few big-money sports where the earnings of women are somewhat comparable to men, though Sharapova's income nonetheless was significantly less than the $67 million earned by Roger Federer, the top tennis player on the latest Forbes men's list. Boxers Floyd Mayweather ($300 million) and Manny Pacquiao ($160 million) head the latest men's list, followed by Portugal and Real Madrid soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo ($79.6 million). The female earnings were calculated from June 1 of last year until the same date in 2015. — Reuters
