Naomi Osaka beat Serena Williams to become most paid tennis player

Naomi Osaka has become the world's highest-paid female athlete ahead of Serena Williams.

The Japanese pro tennis rakes in $37.4 million in prize money and endorsements over the last year, as reported by Daily Mail.

22-year-old twice Grand Slam champion's total is the most ever earned by a female athlete in a 12-month period, Forbes claims.

She earned $1.4 million more than American great Williams who had topped the list for the last four years.

She won the next Grand Slam, the 2019 Australian Open.

Maria Sharapova had held the record for 12-month earnings for a female athlete, having made $29.7 million in 2015.

Serena Williams or Russian Sharapova had held the position of top earners from 2004.

Osaka burst into the limelight by beating Williams in the 2018 U.S. Open final.