Tennis players make up the majority of the world’s highest paid female athletes, according to an annual list published by Forbes on Tuesday ahead of next week’s US Open.

Serena Williams topped the list for the third consecutive year, despite dropping out of Forbes’ ranking of the world’s 100 highest-paid athletes in June.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion earned just $62,000 (£48,050) from prize money during the past year – owing largely to her 14-month break to have a baby – but made $18m (£13.95m) through endorsements.

Badminton player PV Sindhu and American race car driver Danica Patrick are the only non-tennis players in the top 10.

Dane Caroline Wozniacki is second on the list having won her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year – a victory that secured her $3.1m (£2.4m) in prize money to push her total earnings to $13m (£10.1m).

Completing the top five are Sloane Stephens, Garbine Muguruza and Maria Sharapova.

Russian Sharapova was the top-earning female athlete for 11 consecutive years but has seen her earnings drop after her 15-month doping ban.

Indian Olympic and world silver medallist Sindhu and Patrick – the most successful female race car driver – are seventh and ninth on the list respectively.