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Pepsi Drops Maria Sharapova

What's the price of a shoulder injury to a tennis star? In Maria Sharapova's case, it turns out to be at least a couple of million dollars. Pepsi announced today, or rather its spokesman gave the news in an interview, that its contract with the Russian tennis star and part-time model would not be renewed. Why? ?There is no particular reason other than that the contract has ended, with both parties mutually deciding to go their own way,? Huw Gilbert, a Purchase, New York-based spokesman for the world?s second-biggest soft-drink maker, said in an interview reported by Bloomberg. ?We enjoyed our partnership and wish her well.?

Sharapova however hasn't commented on the contract termination making it perfectly clear that the termination emanated from Purchase New York and most likely resulted from her precipitate drop in the rankings to the low 50s. The contract was estimated to be worth about $1 million per year but since Sharapova is reputedly the world's highest paid woman athlete, earning an estimated $22 million, I think she can afford the loss. The precedent however is another story. She better hope this is an isolated case and not the start of a trend. Either that or her shoulder better heal and she better get her game back if she wants to continue her earnings reign.

Full post as published by Sports Biz on April 15, 2009 (boomark / email).