After his US Open win will Nadal grab the biggest piece of the pie?

And the kudos keep on coming in for Rafael Nadal.

The Mallorcan Matador has clinched the season-ending No. 1 ranking for the second time in his career according to the ATP World Tour after winning his first US Open title and completing the Career Slam over the weekend. He also owns this year's Roland Garros and Wimbledon championships and earned three consecutive Masters 1000 Series titles at Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid.

"It has been an incredible season - one of my best ever, if not the best," he said in a statement. "Winning the US Open together with Roland Garros and Wimbledon, as well as the three back-to-back (ATP World Tour) Masters 1000s in Europe, was not easy. I worked very hard to get back to the top and it feels really good to know I will end the year as No.1."

No kidding. And, as if that awesome news weren't enough an article out today by Bloomberg.com tips the 24-year old to surpass Roger Federer in endorsements by virtue of his achievements so far this year. In August, Fed topped Forbes magazine's list of tennis' top earners with an estimated $43 million in yearly earnings (includes prize money, endorsements, appearance fees, etc.) followed by Maria Sharapova with $24.5 million and  Rafa in third place with $21 million (third place never looked so nice, eh?)

That's a pretty huge leap to the front line but his management agency, IMG Worldwide Inc., is focused on ramping up his visibility here in the U.S. and aligning him with brands that speak to his values.

"Again he proved to everybody that he has no limits,” said Fernando Soler, head of the tennis division at IMG. “He is an amazing ambassador for any brand, and I think that it is our obligation now to target the U.S. market and deliver, for him.”

There's so much more Rafa could be doing in the US market, but I think it'll take a little longer for him not because of his current grasp of the English language (though, like his game, it has improved dramatically over the years) but mostly because of his own desire to find the right balance between tennis, off-court demands and his personal life. I don't think he's interested or could necessarily handle the exposure and demand on his time that too many of these activities would require the way Fed has over the years. They're different breeds. He may opt for less opportunities so he can have more time at home in Mallorca with family and friends, a stated priority for him.

But, that being said, there's still a lot of room for Rafa to grow his 'brand' here even with any set limitations, and certainly with the win at Flushing Meadows the demand is there. And growing.

[Photos: Getty Images]

Fed + Shrieka make Forbes "Best-Paid Celebs Under 30" Top 10, stay recession-proof

Even though the world's facing a major financial crisis, top ballers Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova probably won't feel the pinch much.

Forbes has just released their "Best-Paid Celebs Under 30" list and the Swiss maestro and his Russian counterpart both made the Top 10 joining basketballers Kobe Bryant + Lebron James, singers Beyonce + Justin Timberlake, actress Keira Knightley, and more.

Here's what Forbes had to say about Fed:

Earnings: $35 million

The world's top tennis player won $10 million in prize money in 2007--and another three grand slams. He recently signed up for 10 more years with Nike, one of the biggest deals ever in tennis.

Shrieka made the mag's "20 Under 25" list last year after raking in a cool $23 million but the Russian glamazon managed to top that number this time around:

Earnings: $26 million

There's nothing like the combination of talent and good looks to woo corporations looking to spend endorsement dollars. Sharapova's Australian Open title this year was her third Grand Slam win, along with 16 other singles titles. She's recently added Sony to an endorsement portfolio that includes Pepsi, Colgate-Palmolive, Nike and Motorola.

Fed + Maria weren't the only ballers on the list: the Sisters Sledge also made the cut with ReRe coming in at 11th with $14 million and V at 12th with $13 million.

*RICH opens wallet, starts crying*

(images via Getty)

Tennis' lady ballers rule Forbes earnings list, Maria tops with $26 million

Maria "Shriek"apova's game may be struggling these days but the Russian still rules when it comes to making green.

Forbes magazine just released their annual list of the Top-Earning Female Athletes and the Russian fashionista, who also made the mag's Celebrity 100 and 20 Under 25 lists, ranked first making $26 million up from the $23 million she made last year.

Here's what Forbes had to say about the Aussie Open champ:

There's nothing like the combination of talent and good looks to woo corporations looking to spend endorsement dollars. Sharapova's Australian Open title this year was her third Grand Slam win, along with 16 other singles titles. She's recently added Sony to an endorsement portfolio that includes Pepsi, Colgate-Palmolive, Nike and Motorola.

Tennis was the dominant sport on the list with Serena Williams coming in a distant second with $14 million, Venus Williams third with $13 million, Justine Henin sits at fourth with $12.5 million and Ana Ivanovic at ninth with $6.5 million.

The lady ballers are making some serious bank - don't be fooled.

(image via Getty)

Forbes lets us know that Fed, Maria, Serena + Justine are famous and well-paid

Tennis has some of the most powerful and well-paid celebrities in the world. Like, duh.

Forbes just released their annual "Celebrity 100" list which ranks celebrities based on "earnings, then factors in media metrics like Google hits, press mentions as compiled by Factiva, TV/radio mentions from Lexis/Nexis and the number of times an A-lister appears on the cover of more than 50 consumer magazines." Wow - that's so scientific!

Anyway, Roger Federer, Maria "Shriek"apova, Serena Williams, and Justine Henin all made the list this year. Here's their ranking and what the mag had to say about our ballers:

Fed - (rank: 23) The world's top tennis player won $10 million in prize money in 2007—and another three grand slams. He recently signed up for 10 more years with Nike, one of the biggest deals ever in tennis.

Maria - (rank: 61) After the recent sudden retirement of Justine Henin, Sharapova moved to the top of the WTA Tour rankings for the fourth time in her career. She won her third Grand Slam tournament at the Australian Open in January. In the past 12 months, she has renewed her endorsement deals with Canon and Tag Heuer, and she'll be getting double what they previously paid. She also has signed on to be a face of Sony. Also in her portfolio of global sponsors: Colgate-Palmolive, Motorola, Nike and Pepsi.

ReRe - (rank: 69) The younger Williams sister is back with three tournament wins so far in 2008 after chalking up only three wins in the three previous years combined. She signed a $2 million deal with Hewlett-Packard that adds to her hefty endorsement income, and she partners with Kraft, Nike and Wilson. Her $19 million in career prize money is the sixth highest among female tennis players.

Justine - (rank: 81) Henin shocked the tennis world with her sudden retirement in May. She is the first Tour player to quit while ranked No. 1. She had a phenomenal 2007, winning 10 of the 14 tournaments she played in and became the first woman to snag $5 million in prize money in one season.

(images via Getty)

Maria Sharapova makes Forbes 20 Under 25 list, pulls in $23 million

We can see why Maria "Shriek"apova was all smiles over the weekend, even though she wasn't making money on the tennis court. Forbes magazine released their annual 20 Under 25 list, which ranks the Top-Earning Young Superstars and which makes the rest of us want to cry (psychology degree? dumb!). The Russian fashionista came in at a respectable #3 after bringing in a cool $23 million from June 2006 - 07. Here's what Forbes had to say about the Maria money-making machine:

"Tennis' 'It' girl struggled with injuries in 2007, winning only one tournament and banking $1.7 million on the court. That's down from five tourney wins and $3.8 million in prize money the previous year. Not to worry, Sharapova's endorsement portfolio is one of the strongest in sports. This year she added Pepsi as a sponsor to an already impressive roster that includes Nike, Canon, Colgate-Palmolive and Motorola."

Phew - after her said struggles this year, it's good to know Maria won't need to break the piggy bank any time soon...or ever.

(image via maria-sharapova.org)