In 2015, tennis legend Chris Evert made a notable comment about the disparity between Serena Williams’ and Maria Sharapova’s off-court earnings, suggesting that the corporate world favored “good-looking blonde girls” like Sharapova over Williams. Evert pointed out that Sharapova, with her business acumen, was particularly proactive in positioning herself as a brand from a young age. She also highlighted Sharapova’s hard work in cultivating her marketability.
Despite their rivalry on the tennis court, where Williams dominated with a 20-2 head-to-head record and 23 Grand Slam titles compared to Sharapova’s five, both players secured lucrative endorsement deals. Sharapova had partnerships with top brands like Nike, Tag Heuer, and Canon, giving her an edge in endorsements at the time. However, Williams’ overall career earnings, including both tennis winnings and endorsements, outpaced Sharapova, with Williams earning $340 million compared to Sharapova’s $325 million (as of 2024, according to Forbes).
This disparity in off-court earnings sparked discussions about race and marketability, with Evert’s comments underscoring the challenges Williams faced in an industry that often favored a certain image.
