Russia's Sharapova still top earner despite injury problems

Despite being out of professional tennis for 10 months with a shoulder injury, Russia's Maria Sharapova still managed to earn around $22.5 million over the year.

NEW YORK, September 7 (RIA Novosti) - Despite being out of professional tennis for 10 months with a shoulder injury, Russia's Maria Sharapova still managed to earn around $22.5 million over the year, Forbes magazine reported.

The 22-year-old became an overnight tennis sensation at the age of 17 when she won the Wimbledon title in 2004, going on to sign lucrative contracts with global brands Canon, Motorola, Tiffany, Land Rover, Nike and Colgate-Palmolive.

Sharapova, who only returned to the tennis circuit in March, is rumored to have signed a contract worth $2-million with Unilever earlier this year to promote shampoo.

The 2006 U.S. Open champion, who had to completely alter her service action following her injury, was dumped in a three-set thriller 3:6, 6:4, 7:5 on Saturday in New York by U.S. teen sensation Melanie Oudin.

The 17-year-old American, who also ended Elena Dementieva's tournament challenge, will face another Russian, Nadia Petrova, in the fourth round of the grand slam.

Petrova, seeded 13th, and Svetlana Kuznetsova are the only two Russians left in the women's singles after world No. 1 Dinara Safina was dispatched by Petra Kvitova from the Czech Republic.