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Russian athlete Maria Sharapova, 26, ended up on top of Forbes magazine’s list of business-savvy sports figures released Monday. Forbes pointed out to tennis star’s status as the biggest-earning female athlete in the world with $29 million of income from mid-2012 to mid-2013. Most of it came through contracts with companies such as Nike and Porsche. She also launched a candy line last year, raking in $6 million on the Sugarpova sweets, the business weekly said. Sharapova is the only Russian on the 30 Under 30 in Sports list dominated by Americans. She was also the only athlete in the top 30. The runner-up was Muthu Alagappan, 23, a basketball analytic, while the third place went to lawyer Jonathan Amoona, 29, who worked on NFA and NBA disputes. Forbes compiles annual 30 Under 30 lists in 15 categories, from finance to food and wine, marking young talents with entrepreneurial acumen who are “impatient to change the world.” Maria Sharapova, currently #3 in WTA ranking, has won 29 singles tournaments, including four Grand Slam titles. In 2005, she became the first Russian to rank as the world’s top tennis player, according to the WTA. Sharapova to change her surname to Sugarpova for the US Open: By Elena Malakhova: The
4time major title holder Maria Sharapova who is also considered the world’s richest sportswoman is going to change her name to Sugarpova for the duration of the US Open in order to promote her sweets brand. Sharapova's outfit for the tournament will be decorated with the logo of her company – a pair of red lips. Of course the 2012 Olympic runner-up will need to receive an approval from the grand slam committee but if that is granted, she could perform under a new name of Sugarpova at the 4th and final grand Slam event of the year. The world number one Serena Williams is the main frontrunner to win the event. First of all she tops the WTA rankings and secondly she is the defending US Open champion. Viktoria Azarenka of Belarus was seeded second for the tournament and she is intending to battle for the trophy as well. Several days ago the world number two Viktoria Azarenka defeated the home favourite Serena Williams in the final of the Cincinnati Open. In the men’s draw the title is expected to be contested between the top 5 players who have set sights on winning the season-ending Grand Slam. The eight time French Open holder Rafael Nadal of Spain has leapfrogged the Olympic champion Andy Murray in the rankings thanks to his victory in the final of the Cincinnati Open. But the well-decorated Spanish player doesn’t agree that his two trophies in as many weeks make him the overwhelming frontrunner of the upcoming tournament at the Flushing Meadows. Novak Djokovic remained number one player, Andy Murray has dropped to the third place swapping places with Nadal. The 17 time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer of Switzerland is down to 7th position. Voice of Russia, RIA, Source: Article
