Tennis
ROGER FEDERER IS FORBES’ RICHEST SPORTS PERSON
Swiss’ Roger Federer is the first tennis player to top Forbes’ list of sports big-earners since it was created in 1990
The Swiss, who will turn 39 in August, never seems to stop and he has come out on top again on Friday when he made history in a new way.
The Swiss maestro ranked No. 1 in the 2020 Forbes magazine list of highest-paid global athletes, leading the line-up for the first time with pre-tax earnings of US$106.3 million (S$150 million).
He is the first tennis player atop the annual list since it was created in 1990, rising from fifth last year and his previous highest ranking of No. 2 in 2013.
His haul over the past 12 months included US$100 million from appearance fees and lucrative endorsement deals, plus US$6.3 million in prize money.
Only 15-time golf Major champion Tiger Woods, who has a record 12 first-place rankings, has joined Federer in earning US$100 million in sponsor deals in a single year.
“Roger Federer is the perfect pitchman for companies, resulting in an unparalleled endorsement portfolio of blue-chip brands worth US$100 million a year for the tennis great,” said Forbes’ senior editor Kurt Badenhausen.
Federer’s endorsement portfolio includes 13 brands with the likes of Barilla, Moet & Chandon and Rimowa paying between US$3 million and US$30 million to link him with their brands.
In 2018, he signed a 10-year blockbuster deal with Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo that would potentially pay him US$300 million over the duration. Other big names like Rolex, Credit Suisse, Mercedes-Benz and Wilson have remained on board for over a decade.
“His brand is pristine, which is why those that can afford to align with him clamour to do so,” University of Southern California sports business professor David Carter told Forbes.
For the 22 years since he turned professional, Federer’s career achievements have been the hallmark of legends.
He holds the record for the most Grand Slam men’s singles titles (20) and the most weeks ranked at world No. 1 (310). He has also ranked in the top three for 750 consecutive weeks – nearly 15 years – and he had qualified for 18 out of 19 Slam finals from 2005 to 2010.
And with three Slams in the past three years in his late 30s, it was hardly surprising that he broke another record on Friday.
But, amid the coronavirus pandemic that shut down sports worldwide, the Forbes list – which calculated the total income of the world’s 100 top-paid athletes – saw a 9 per cent dip from last year to US$3.6 billion, the first decline since 2016.
Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo was second on the list at US$105 million, US$60 million in salary and US$45 million from endorsements, with Argentinian Lionel Messi – last year’s top earner – third on US$104 million, US$32 million of that from sponsorship deals.
Messi and Ronaldo, who have traded the top spot three of the past four years, saw their combined incomes dip US$28 million from last year due to salary cuts when European clubs halted play in March.
Woods was eighth on the list and top among golfers at US$62.3 million, all but US$2.3 million from sponsor deals.
Among Federer’s rivals, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic came in at No. 23 with US$44.6 million (US$32 million from endorsements), while Rafael Nadal ranked not far behind at No. 27 with US$40 million (US$26 million from endorsements).
The top 100 featured athletes from 21 nations and 10 sports.
More NBA players made the list than those from any other sport at 35, but 31 NFL players made the cut, up from 19 from last year.
Two women, tennis stars Naomi Osaka of Japan and Serena Williams of the United States, made the list, the most females on it since 2016.
Osaka ranked 29th on US$37.4 million (US$34 million from endorsements), four spots ahead of Williams (US$36 million, US$32 million from endorsements).
AFP, Reuters
FORBES’ TOP 10 HIGHEST-PAID ATHLETES
- Roger Federer (tennis) US$106.3 million (S$150 million)
- Cristiano Ronaldo (football) US$105 million
- Lionel Messi (football) US$104 million
- Neymar (football) US$95.5 million
- LeBron James (basketball) US$88.2 million
- Stephen Curry (basketball) US$74.4 million
- Kevin Durant (basketball) US$63.9 million
- Tiger Woods (golf) US$62.3 million
- Kirk Cousins (American football) US$60.5 million
- Carson Wentz (American football) US$59.1 million
HOW MANY FROM EACH SPORT
- Basketball 35
- American football 31
- Football 14
- Tennis 6
- Boxing and mixed martial arts 4
- Golf 3
- Motor racing 1
- Baseball and cricket 1
Naomi Osaka has parted ways with coach Wim Fissette after four years together across two stints, the 26-year-old announced late on Friday.
The former world number one won two of her four Grand Slam titles under the guidance of the Belgian, but is currently 75th in the rankings having returned to the tour nine months ago after a lengthy maternity break.
“Four years, two slams and a whole lot of memories,” Osaka wrote in an Instagram post.
“Thanks Wim for being a great coach and an even greater person. Wishing you all the best.”
Of the 16 tournaments Osaka has played this season, she has made the quarter-finals in only two – Doha and ‘s-Hertogenbosch – and the Japanese player has also failed to go past the second round in each of the four Grand Slams
-Reuters
Five players from the United States are ranked in the Women’s Tennis Association’s top 15 for the first time in two decades, the USTA said on Monday.
World number two Coco Gauff led the American charge followed by sixth-ranked Jessica Pegula and Danielle Collins, who climbed two spots to ninth on the list amid a remarkable farewell season.
Madison Keys was ranked 14th while Emma Navarro hopped two spots to a career-high 15th after reaching her first major quarter-final at Wimbledon.
The last time five American women featured in the top 15 was May 24, 2004, when Lindsay Davenport was fourth in the world
-Reuters
Seven-times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams and Australian soccer player Mary Fowler are among nine athletes to get a Barbie doll in their likeness as toy maker Mattel seeks to shine a light on women sports role models ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Mattel unveiled the dolls on Wednesday, each with their bespoke accessories. Fowler’s wears gloves and holds a football while Williams’ doll, dressed in an all white tennis dress and visor as well as wearing earrings, comes with a miniature racket.
The former world number one said she hoped to motivate young girls into sports with the doll.
“I literally can’t imagine my life without sports and without the game,” Williams said in a video, in which she held the doll.
“I want other young girls to have that invaluable experience of playing a sport and what it teaches you and what you learn and what you take from it, not just that moment (but) for the rest of your life… I think it’s so important for girls to be in sports.”
Other sports figures to have a doll in their likeness include French boxer Estelle Mossely, Polish sprinter Ewa Swoboda, Spanish doctor and paratriathlon athlete Susana Rodriguez, Italian former swimmer Federica Pellegrini, Canadian soccer player Christine Sinclair as well as Mexican and Brazilian gymnasts, Alexa Moreno and Rebeca Andrade.
The dolls, unveiled as Barbie turns 65 this year, “(recognise) the impact of sport in fostering self-confidence and ambition among the next generation”, Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and Mattel’s Global Head of Dolls, said.
“By shining a light on these inspirational athletes and their stories, we hope to champion the belief that every young girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her passions and turn her dreams into reality,” she said in a statement.
-Reuters
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