Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams lead a pack of tennis players at the top of a list of the world's highest-paid female athletes in 2013 released by Forbes on Monday.

Russian world No 3 Maria Sharapova tops the Forbes list for the ninth straight year with $29 million in earnings from prize money, endorsements and appearance fees between June 2012 and June 2013.

Fellow tennis star Serena Williams with $20.5 million was runner up, followed by Li Na in third with $18.2 million and Victoria Azarenka fourth, with $15.7 million.

Seven of the 10 women athletes who made the Forbes list were tennis players.

NASCAR racer Danica Patrick cruised into the fifth position with $15 million over the course of the last 12 months.

South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na ($14 million) came in sixth, followed by another trio of tennis aces - Caroline Wozniacki ($13.6 million), Agnieszka Radwanska ($7.4 million), Ana Ivanovic ($7 million).

Golfer Paula Creamer with $5.5 million in earnings rounded out the top 10.

The 2013 World's Highest-paid Female Athletes

1. Maria Sharapova, Russia

Total earnings: $29 million

Prize money: $6 million

Endorsements: $23 million

Sharapova completed the career Grand Slam last year when she won the French Open. The win triggered lucrative bonuses with sponsors Nike and Head. Her $26.7 million in career prize money ranks third all-time behind the Williams sisters.

Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates defeating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in their women's singles semi-final match during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, June 6, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]