How Much Do Tennis Players Make?

by , 10 March 2023

The answer to the question, “how much does a tennis player make?” obviously depends on the tennis player. There is a vast difference between the lowest and highest-paid tennis stars. This article covers top-paid tennis players, explores their careers, and how they won their money. We’ll also investigate their off-court deals, which can often be much higher than the prize money income.

How much does a tennis player make in 2023?

Tennis is incredibly popular as a spectator sport globally, and millions tune in to watch games, especially the Grand Slam events, Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. Wimbledon is especially popular with tennis betting fans, as over 53 million Brits tuned into the BBC to watch the 2022 edition.

With so many eyes on the games, it does not surprise that the prize money on offer is significant, often millions of pounds, which means that the players with the most tennis titles are also the highest-paid tennis players. However, it’s often the case that off-court deals and sponsorships can significantly enhance a player’s income, as is the case for the World’s Highest-Paid Footballers, so we will also delve into commercial arrangements.

Highest-paid tennis players worldwide in 2023;

Roger Federer – £76m

The now-retired Roger Federer is regarded in tennis circles as one of the greatest players ever gracing a court, winning 20 major men’s singles titles. At his peak, he was unbeatable and held the world’s No. 1 ranking for 310 weeks, which included a record 237 consecutive weeks.

Wimbledon betting fans will know him well as he is the record wins holder with 20, and the venue has a special place in Federer’s heart as it was the location of his first title win in 2003 when he was aged 21.

The years between 2003 and 2009 were a period of almost total dominance from the Swiss star, as he featured in 21 out of the 28 major singles finals, winning five consecutive US Open and Wimbledon titles during this time.

2009 was an excellent year for Federer personally, as he finally completed a career Grand Slam when he won the French Open. He had come close the three years previous but was a beaten finalist on each occasion. At Wimbledon in 2009, he broke Pete Sampras’ record of 14 major men’s singles victories, breaking it at the age of 27.

Federer won the first-ever Davis Cup championship with Switzerland in 2014 and earned a silver medal at the London Olympics two years prior.

In 2016, Federer was forced to sit out six months of tournaments due to a knee injury, but he returned to the sport with a bang, winning three majors over the next two years, including the 2017 Australian Open, where he beat rival Rafael Nadal. The same year he picked up his eighth Wimbledon title.

After the Laver Cup in September 2022, he retired from competitive tennis.

Federer – The King of Endorsements

Roger Federer has an off-court sponsor portfolio that is so lucrative that even if he wasn’t retired, he would never need to hit another ball in his life and would still feature in the highest-paid tennis players lists. In fact, his sponsorship deals are so rewarding that Federer in 2020 was the world’s highest-paid athlete. Although other sports people have surpassed him, last year, he still was in the top ten earners in sports (number 7).

Federer’s earnings from tennis since he turned pro in 1998 are estimated to be £110m, lower than his direct rivals, such as Djokovic’s £133 million and Nadal’s $111 million. However, Federer’s earnings away from the sport are on a different planet, with estimated revenues of over $1 billion (£840,000).

The former number 1’s sponsorship list is extensive with Barilla, Credit Suisse Group (ADS), JURA, Lindt & Sprungli, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, Mercedes-Benz, NetJets, On, RIMOWA, Rolex, Sunrise Communications AG, Switzerland Tourism, Uniqlo and Wilson Sporting Goods all previously having a commercial relationship with him. However, Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo is the biggest sponsor due to a deal worth $300 (£252.45). As this agreement was for ten years when signed in 2018, Federer will still receive an income for over five years when not playing. Unlike deals on the table from famous sporting brands like Nike or Addidas, Uniqlo had a long-term vision that would see him transition from a sports player to a brand ambassador.

Yet this deal will likely be dwarfed by his collaboration with the Swiss sports company On after he became an investor. It has not been confirmed what stake he owns, but many believe he made a significant return when it went public in September 2021.

Federer may have retired, but his bank balance will be healthy for a long time, thanks to his playing days. It’s also likely that he won’t fade from public view either, as he is rumoured to be part of BBC’s commentary team for this year’s Wimbledon.

His previous rival, Tim Henman, who reached the semi-final stage of Wimbledon four times (1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002), said: “Will Roger Federer come to Wimbledon this year? I hope so. In what capacity? I don’t know. He was an amazing champion in our sport, the most incredible ambassador for our sport, and he’s a dear friend of mine, so I hope I really want to see him a little more. I mean, he’s a member, true, Wimbledon.”

Roger Federer prize money: Federer’s career earnings are estimated to be £109,869,017, which puts him high up on the tennis prize money list.

Naomi Osaka – £47.29m

The Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka has swept the tennis world by storm. She is one of the world’s most gifted athletes thanks to her unbridled talent and extraordinary abilities.

She is the first Asian player to hold the No. 1 singles ranking in the world, according to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). The 25-year-old, who stands at 1.80 meters tall, is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion, having won the US Open twice and the Australian Open twice. Seven championships on the WTA Tour, including two at the Premier Mandatory level, are part of Osaka’s impressive resume.

Osaka is exceptional because she performs effectively under pressure. She made history by winning her first two major titles in back-to-back matches in the 2018 US Open and the 2019 Australian Open. In addition, she achieved two firsts by winning her first two major singles titles, becoming the first woman to do it since Serena Williams in 2015 and the first since Jennifer Capriati in 2001. Osaka, raised by a Haitian-American father and a Japanese mother but was born in Japan, moved to the US at the age of three to pursue her passion for tennis. She had a breakthrough in 2018 at the Indian Wells Open when she captured her first WTA title. Later that year, she defeated Serena Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam champion.

Osaka has served as a role model off the court for many people. She has openly discussed her mental health issues and withdrew from important competitions to put her well-being first. She has advocated for social justice despite this setback, and during her matches, she has demonstrated her support for the Black Lives Matter cause. She was named one of the Sports Illustrated Sportspersons of the Year for 2020 for her advocacy, and she appeared on Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most important people in the world for 2019, 2020, and 2021. She also won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award in 2021.

Osaka’s star power is apparent off the court. She is now among the highest-paid athletes of all time thanks to endorsement deals and a yearly salary more than many of her contemporaries. Moreover, she established herself as a true champion by being the first tennis player to have the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

In the world of professional tennis, apparel deals are often the most significant endorsement a player can secure. And Naomi Osaka’s timing couldn’t have been better. After winning two Grand Slams, the Japanese tennis sensation became a hot commodity on the open market, sparking a bidding war between Nike and her previous sponsor, Adidas. Ultimately, the Swoosh came out on top, offering Osaka a staggering $10 million in a deal that will run through 2025.

But what’s truly remarkable about Osaka’s Nike contract is the rare and highly lucrative provision she secured. Typically, Nike requires its tennis players to wear nothing but Nike gear, with no other logos allowed on their clothing or hats. It’s prime marketing real estate, as cameras closely focus on the player during serves and returns.

In the past, Nike has never made an exception for any of its star players, including legends like Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, John McEnroe, and Andre Agassi. The only exception until recently was China’s Li Na. But Osaka was able to leverage her rising stardom and the impending retirement of Sharapova to secure the same exemption, with her “patch” deals featuring the logos of All Nippon Airways, MasterCard, and Nissin Foods.

With 15 endorsement partners, including Nissan, Shiseido, and Yonex, whose tennis racquets she’s used for over a decade, Osaka is one of the most marketable athletes in the world. And Nike has big plans for the 25-year-old, including the launch of a streetwear line in Japan later this year. The line will feature hoodies, leggings, and shirts, with a new collection each season. So while there won’t be any tennis apparel, it’s clear that Osaka’s star is only getting brighter both on and off the court.

Naomi Osaka prize money: Osaka earned £47.80 million in prize money and sponsorships in 2022, maintaining her status as the highest-paid female tennis player.

Serena Williams – £29.54m

Serena Williams is an icon in the world of tennis, known for her sheer excellence and dominance on the court. Since turning pro in 1995, Serena has become one of the greatest athletes ever to grace the sport.

Serena has amassed a staggering 23 Grand Slam singles trophies throughout her long career, which is second only to Margaret Court’s all-time record and more than any other player in the Open Era. Additionally, she and her sister Venus have an undefeated record in major doubles finals and have combined to win 14 major women’s doubles titles.

Serena’s record-breaking achievements in tennis are unparalleled. She has spent a record-breaking 319 weeks ranked the world No.1 in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), including a joint record of 186 consecutive weeks. Furthermore, she has been named the year-end No.1 player five times and won 73 career titles, placing her in fifth place on the all-time list. Serena is also the only male or female player to achieve a Career Golden Slam in both singles and doubles.

Serena differs from other tennis players in that she could capture many major championships in a single season. She achieved the career Grand Slam and the non-calendar year Grand Slam, which she termed the “Serena Slam,” by winning all four of the major singles tournaments from the 2002 French Open to the 2003 Australian Open. In 2014–15, she completed a second “Serena Slam” by winning four straight major singles championships.

Serena has battled injuries throughout her career but has always made a triumphant comeback to reclaim her position at the top of the tennis world. In 2017, she achieved her 23rd major singles title at the Australian Open, surpassing Steffi Graf’s Open Era record.

Serena’s impact on the tennis world extends beyond her on-court success. She has paved the way for women’s tennis and has fiercely advocated for gender and racial equality in the sport. Furthermore, she has used her platform to speak out on social issues such as police brutality and healthcare for women.

Serena stated in 2022 that she would stop playing tennis professionally, and she played her final match at the US Open that year. Her retirement brings to a close a remarkable career that lasted for almost three decades. Serena’s retirement may be bittersweet for tennis fans, but it doesn’t change the fact that she will always be regarded as one of the greatest athletes ever.

Serena Williams prize money: Williams earned just £250,000 tennis player salary in 2022, but her endorsements ensured she took home almost £30m. Williams’ career earnings from prizemoney is £29.45m, but her net worth is an incredible £216m.

Rafael Nadal – £26.42m

Along with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal has made a name for himself as one of the best male tennis players of all time.

According to the Association of Tennis Professionals, the professional tennis player from Spain is presently ranked ninth in the world in singles (ATP). Nadal has been ranked first in the world for 209 weeks and five times at the end of the year, solidifying his place in tennis history.

Nadal has won a record-breaking 14 French Open titles and an incredible 22 Grand Slam men’s singles trophies. In addition, he has won 36 Masters titles, an astounding 63 on clay courts, and 92 ATP singles titles. With 81 straight victories on clay, Nadal holds the record for the longest winning streak on a single surface during the Open Era. In addition, he is one of just two men to complete the Career Golden Slam in singles.

With 16 championships won before age 20, Nadal’s remarkable career got off to one of the best starts in ATP Tour history as one of the most successful teens. During this time, he captured his maiden French Open and six Masters titles.

Following his victory over Federer in a historic Wimbledon final, Nadal gained the No. 1 ranking for the first time in 2008, marking his first major victory off clay. He followed this up with an Olympic singles gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The 2010 US Open final saw Nadal overcome Djokovic, becoming the first man to win a major on three different surfaces in the same year and the youngest player in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam (Surface Slam).

After two injury-marred seasons, Nadal had an incredible comeback in 2013, making it to 14 finals, winning two majors, five Masters championships, and sweeping the US Open Series (Summer Slam).

He extended his dominance at the French Open, winning six titles, two at the US Open, one at the Australian Open, and an Olympic doubles gold with Marc Lopez at the 2016 Summer Olympics. At the 2022 Australian Open, Nadal broke his tie with Djokovic and Federer for the most major men’s singles championships, becoming one of only four players in history to achieve the double Career Grand Slam in singles. Since April 2005, Nadal has consistently remained in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings.

His greatest assets on the court are his outstanding forehand, which he hits with high topspin, and his speed and athleticism. He is also renowned for his mental fortitude and unyielding resolve. Nadal has become a fan favourite and a role model for aspiring young players worldwide thanks to his playing style and attitude.

With a combined 22 Grand Slam victories as of March 2023, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic hold the record for the most tennis grand slams (male).

Rafael Nadal prize money: Nadal earned £26.53m in 2022 but just £5.41m was due to prize money, the additional £21.12m was from endorsements.

Novak Djokovic – £27.10m

Novak Djokovic is a force to be feared in men’s tennis. His dominance and dependability on the court have cemented his place among the sport’s all-time greats, and he has established records that will be difficult to match.

Djokovic, 35, has held the top spot for a record-breaking 379 consecutive weeks, according to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). His tremendous work ethic and dedication to the sport may be the reason for his success, as they have allowed him to share the record for the most Grand Slam championships (22) with Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic’s achievements in tennis are nothing short of remarkable. He holds the most Australian Open victories (10), Masters victories (38), and Tour Finals victories (6 in a row). In addition, he is the only tennis player in history to simultaneously hold all four major titles on three different playing surfaces, having completed a non-calendar-year Grand Slam in singles.

Djokovic is also the first player in the Open Era to accomplish a double Career Grand Slam in singles and the only one to triumph twice in each of the nine Masters Tournaments necessary to complete the career Golden Masters in singles.

Djokovic began his professional career in 2003, and in 2008, he won the Australian Open, ending Federer and Nadal’s streak of 11 consecutive Grand Slam tournament victories. At the age of 24, Djokovic first attained the top rank after winning five Masters championships and three major tournaments. His unstoppable streak continued into the 2016 French Open, where he won all four major titles concurrently for the first time since Rod Laver did so in 1969, completing a non-calendar-year Grand Slam and the maiden Grand Slam of his career.

Djokovic regained his composure at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships after a 2017 slump in performance due to injuries, winning three straight majors and regaining the top spot in the world rankings. Djokovic won the first three major tournaments of 2021, putting him in a position to attempt the Grand Slam at the US Open. Sadly, he was defeated by Daniil Medvedev in the championship match, but his consistency throughout the year won him a record seven-year-end rankings in the Open Era. He had won 10 of the last 18 major championships as of the 2023 Australian Open.

Djokovic’s contributions to the sport extend beyond his individual achievements. In 2010 and 2020, he guided the Serbian national team to their first ATP Cup and Davis Cup titles, respectively. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, he brought home the bronze medal for Serbia.

We posed the question earlier, “how much does tennis players make” and if you are Djokovic the numbers are enormous. Like all tennis players, Novak Djokovic’s prize money is only a fraction of what he has earned. Thanks to lucrative sponsorship deals, Novak Djokovic career earnings are over £185.84m.

The companies that have sponsored Djokovic, past and present, include Hublot, Lacoste, Head, Asics, Raiffeisen Bank, Peugeot (previous international ambassador), Ultimate Kronos Group (previous brand ambassador) and Seiko (previous sponsor, now terminated).

Novak Djokovic prize money: Djokovic earned £6m in 2022 from on-court success and £16.89m in sponsorship and endoresments for a total of £26.53.

Britain’s Emma Raducanu narrowly missed the top five, listed at 6th in the highest-paid tennis players worldwide list. The youngster earned £2.62m in prize money but made much more in sponsorship deals. The £15.21m she made away from the court means she made a total of £17.83m.

Andy Murray didn’t make the top ten for 2022, but the Scot has made enough from the sport to live comfortably. Andy Murray’s prize money throughout his career is estimated at £53.5m. Andy Murray’s career earnings are calculated to have given him a net worth of £81.35m.

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