Serena Williams has replaced Maria Sharapova in Forbes’ list of The World’s Highest-Paid Female Athletes. Williams ended Sharapova’s 11-year reign at the top of the list by raking in US$ 28.9 million from both prize and endorsement money in the past 12 months.

(Read also: Serena Williams beats Sharapova, reaches Aussie Open semis)

Sharapova is now in second place with more modest annual earnings of $21.9 million. The Russian tennis player is currently provisionally suspended for using meldonium, a banned substance, at the Australian Open in January. Since the scandal, Nike and Porsche have suspended activities with her, while Tag Heuer and American Express decided not to renew their deals and Avon, Evian and Head are sticking by her, forbes.com reported.

The third highest-paid female athlete is mixed martial arts player Ronda Rousey from the US with $14 million, followed closely by racer Danica Patrick with $13.9 million.

The rest of the top 10 list is dominated by tennis players: In order of earnings, they are Agnieszka Radwanska ($10.2 million), Caroline Wozniacki ($8 million), Garbine Muguruza ($7.6 million), Ana Ivanovic ($7.4 million), Victoria Azarenka ($6.6 million) and Eugenie Bouchard ($6.2 million). (asw)

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