For the first time in eight years, zero woman have appeared on the Forbes 100 highest paid athletes of 2018. Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather comes it an No. 1, after a $275 million payday, followed by Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Conor McGregor and Neymar.

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Last year, the sole woman to make the list was Serena Williams, but she dropped off after leaving the tour to give birth to her daughter. Since the list expanded to at least 50 in 2010, one to three women have appeared each year. Maria Sharapova was a regular on the list until her 15-month doping suspension, and Li Na has previously made the Top 100 but she retired in 2014.

Tennis still makes the cut though, with Roger Federer at No. 7, Rafael Nadal at No. 20, Kei Nishikori at No. 35 and Novak Djokovic at No. 86.

The reaction to the testosterone-dominated list has been loud:

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Sharapova was asked about the list after her loss to Garbine Muguruza in the Roland Garros semifinals. She didn't seem too concerned.

Q: What are your thoughts that in financial terms, at least, there are no female athletes in that top 100 list? And can anything be done to redress that balance?

Sharapova: Do you believe in that list?

Q. Well, it's based on certain factors, but...

Sharapova: Which are what?

Q. Economic factors of perceived earnings.

Sharapova: "Perceived" is the word we're looking for.

"I think my answer to that is I don't take those lists very seriously," the five-time Grand Slam champion concluded.

Forbes Top 100 list isbased on earnings figuresincluding all prize money, salaries and bonuses between June 1, 2017 and June 1, 2018.

No woman appears on
Forbes 100 highest
paid athletes list

No woman appears on Forbes 100 highest paid athletes list

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