Recently crowned US Open champion Naomi Osaka is set to sign a deal with Adidas that could make her the highest paid female athlete by the end of this week.
Following her straight-sets win over former World No.1 Serena Williams, Osaka’s name has become an Internet sensation mostly because of Williams’ altercation with the match umpire during the match.
The deal, valued at $8.5 million a year, will make the 20-year-old Japanese the highest paid woman in an endorsement deal. The amount will dwarf her $3.8 million pay-check for winning this year’s Grand Slam but it will be more than what fellow player Caroline Wozniacki gets.
If the deal goes through, Osaka will rock Forbes list among the top earning players but will come second to her idol, Williams. Osaka has the American to thank for her new found fame.
After confronting the chair umpire and calling him a thief at the finals, the video and story went viral instantly. News channels picked it up and millions of sports fans have been split on how to react to the event. Williams was also denied a point, docked a game and fined $17,000 for her altercation.
Besides Adidas, Osaka is set to sign another million-dollar branding deal with car maker Nissan as a spokeswoman.
