1. Maria Sharapova

Forbes: The 10 Highest-Paid Female Athletes

Paid: $25 million
Age: 25
Sharapova bounced back on the court in 2011 after struggling with injuries in recent years. She reached the Wimbledon finals in July, her first Grand Slam in more than three years. Her Nike deal is one of the biggest in sports.

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

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The Highest-Paid... Forbes' income figures include salaries, prize money, endorsements, appearance fees and exhibitions earned between July 2010 through July 2011. Tennis players dominate the top 10, with seven players making the cut.

(AP Photos/Lee Jin-man/Nam Y. Huh/Mark Humphrey)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
10. Paula Creame... Paid: $5.5 million
Age: 24
The lone golfer among the highest-paid women extended her deal with TaylorMade-Adidas Golf this year which has Creamer play TaylorMade clubs and outfitted in Adidas golf apparel.

(AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
9. Ana Ivanovic Paid: $6 million
Age: 23
Ivanovic is ranked No. 17 in the world, but signed a lucrative lifetime endorsement deal with Adidas last year that makes her one of the top earners in women's tennis.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
8. Li Na Paid: $8 million
Age: 29
Li became the first Chinese player to win a singles Grand Slam event at the 2011 French Open. Li is set to see her earnings soar as she has been busy signing new seven-figure deals with companies like Mercedes-Benz that joined Nike, Haagen-Dazs and Rolex in her endorsement portfolio.

(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
7. Kim Yu-na Paid: $10 million
Age: 20
Kim launched her own sports management company, All That Sports, last year to manage her career. The firm organized ice shows in South Korea and Los Angeles with Kim as the star. Kim is South Korea's most popular athlete.

(AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)

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The World’s Top Sports Brands
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
6. Serena Willia... Paid: $10.5 million
Age: 29
Williams played little over the past year as she recovered foot surgery and then a blood clot in her lungs that developed months later. Her $33 million in career prize money is more than any other female athlete.

(AP Photo/Sang Tan)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
5. Kim Clijsters Paid: $11 million
Age: 28
Clijsters retired for two years, but since returning to the court in the summer of 2009 she has won four Grand Slam events. Her $6.5 million in prize money over the past 12-months is the most on the WTA Tour.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
4. Venus William... Paid: $11.5 million
Age: 31
Williams is the oldest woman on our list, but still maintains her deals with Wilson, Electronic Arts, Kraft, Ralph Lauren and Tide. She sell her own line of clothing, Eleven, through the Gilt Groupe.

(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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The World’s Top Sports Brands
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
3. Danica Patric... Paid: $12 million
Age: 29
Patrick continues to split her time between IndyCar and Nascar's Nationwide Series. Her fourth place finish in the Sam's Town 300 in March was the highest finish ever by a woman in a Nascar race. Rumors are swirling that Patrick will race full-time in Nascar in 2011.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
2. Caroline Wozn... Paid: $12.5 million
Age: 21
The world's No. 1 ranked tennis player has held the top spot for 41 weeks. She has added endorsement deals this year with Yonex, Compeed and Oriflame. Her biggest partner is Adidas which paid lucrative bonuses in 2010 thanks to her No. 1 ranking.

(AP Photo/Yves Logghe)

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The World’s Top Sports Brands
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
1. Maria Sharapo... Paid: $25 million
Age: 25
Sharapova bounced back on the court in 2011 after struggling with injuries in recent years. She reached the Wimbledon finals in July, her first Grand Slam in more than three years. Her Nike deal is one of the biggest in sports.

(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

More From Forbes:
The World’s Top Sports Brands
What Makes People Powerful?
America’s Favorite Sports Mascots

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
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