Disqualification of the Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova because of the use of meldonia caused significant damage to her income - the athlete lost nine positions in the list of richest Russians, and her condition for the year decreased by $ 100 million, according to Forbes.

In addition, for the first time since 2005. Sharapova left the top ten richest sportswomen in the world. Her losses from the disqualification Forbes estimated at $ 50 million. According to the publication, in the past seven years, the annual earnings of an athlete was $ 25 million - these are prize and advertising fees. After the March 7, 2016. Sharapova announced that in her doping tests found WADA banned meldonium, Nike, Porsche and TAG Heuer suspended the advertising contracts with the tennis player.

Forced break in the sports career, Maria Sharapova used to take a course in Harvard, specializing in sports manager. She also continued to develop her personal brand of confectionery "Sugarpova" - the production of fruit marmalade and chocolate was started by the athlete in 2012.

Returning to the court after disqualification, Sharapova managed to rise in the ranking to 211st place, receiving a wild card (special invitation) of three tournaments - in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome.

On Monday, August 28, the athlete successfully performed in the first round of the tournament of the series "Grand Slam" US Open, she finished the match with the Romanian Simone Halep with a score of 7: 0 (6: 4, 4: 6, 6: 3), passing in the second Round of the tournament. This year, the total prize fund of the US Open was a record $ 50.4 million.