TOKYO (AP) — Naomi Osaka used a powerful forehand and a matching serve to win the US. Open against Serena Williams two months ago, soaring as high as No. 4 this season in the WTA tennis rankings.
Off the court — on the marketing front — she has the same potential. Maybe more.
Serena Williams topped the Forbes list of the highest-earning female athletes this year at $18 million, almost all endorsements.
Marketing experts say that Osaka appears to be the right woman in the right sport at the right time with the draw to overtake her.
Companies won't say how much her contracts are worth, but they tend to be written so that if she keeps winning, her earnings will keep rising. If one company won't pay, another will snatch her up.
Disclaimer: This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Associated Press (AP) wire.
