The top 13 combined all-time tennis prize money earners: Novak Djokovic top, Serena Williams 4th
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are the highest prize money earners in the history of men’s and women’s tennis respectively.
There are seven men and six women among the top 13 players to collect the most money from their on-court achievements.
Here, we look at the 13 players who have earned the highest prize money totals in the history of the ATP and WTA tours combined.
13. Petra Kvitova – $37,252,032
Petra Kvitova is one of two players in the top 13 who has not been ranked world No 1, with her best year for prize money 2011, when she earned $5,145,943.
The Czech has won 31 WTA singles tournaments, including two Wimbledon titles, one WTA Finals and nine Tier I/WTA 1000 crowns.
12. Victoria Azarenka – $37,769,550
Victoria Azarenka collected $7,923,920 during 2012, making it her highest-earning season and the ninth-best in WTA history.
The Belarusian has won 21 WTA titles, including two Australian Opens and 10 WTA 1000 events.
Prize Money Lists
2024 ATP prize money leaders: Carlos Alcaraz clear at No 1 above Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic 5th
2024 WTA prize money leaders: Iga Swiatek No 1 ahead of Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff 6th
11. Maria Sharapova – $38,777,962
Maria Sharapova’s best year for prize money was 2012, when she earned $6,508,296 in a season that featured a French Open victory.
The Russian claimed 36 WTA singles titles in her career, including five majors, one WTA Finals and 14 Tier I tournaments.
10. Simona Halep – $40,227,773
Simona Halep appears twice in the top 15 single-season WTA prize money hauls at 11th and 13th on the list for 2018 ($7,409,564) and 2019 ($6,962,442) respectively.
The Romanian is a 24-time WTA Tour titlist, having won two Grand Slams, one WTA Finals crown and nine WTA 1000 events.
9. Daniil Medvedev – $41,951,254
The most Daniil Medvedev has earned in a single year was the $11,548,023 he ranked in during the 2023 campaign.
The Russian has secured 20 ATP titles to date, including the 2021 US Open, the 2020 ATP Finals and six Masters 1000 tournaments.
8. Venus Williams – $42,648,697
Venus Williams is the active WTA player who has collected the most career prize money, with her best season total the $5,468,741 she earned in 2017.
The American has won 49 singles events, including seven Grand Slams, one WTA Finals title and nine Tier I tournaments.
7. Pete Sampras – $43,280,489
Pete Sampras is the only player on the list not to feature in the 2010s or later, with the tennis great retiring in 2002. His biggest prize money haul for a single year was $6,498,311 in 1997.
The American claimed 64 titles, including 14 majors, five Year-End Championships and 11 Masters series tournaments.
6. Alexander Zverev – $43,807,984
Alexander Zverev is the only player on this list who has not been ranked world No 1 or won a Grand Slam, with his best season for on-court earnings coming in 2018, when he collected $8,706,298.
The German has won 22 singles tournaments, including two ATP Finals titles and six Masters 1000 crowns.
5. Andy Murray – $64,687,542
Andy Murray earned over a quarter of his career prize money during an incredible 2016 season, with the $16,349,701 he won ranking as the second highest total for a season.
The Brit secured 46 ATP singles titles, including three majors, an ATP Finals triumph and 14 Masters 1000 events during his career.
4. Serena Williams – $94,816,730
Serena Williams in the highest-earning player in the history of women’s tennis and features four times in the top 10 highest single-season WTA Tour prize money totals.
The American holds top spot for 2013 ($12,385,572), third for 2015 ($10,582,642), seventh for 2014 ($9,317,298) and 10th for 2016 ($7,675,030).
Williams won 73 WTA singles titles, including 23 Grand Slams, five WTA Finals crowns and 23 Tier I tournaments.
3. Roger Federer – $130,594,339
Roger Federer no longer appears in the top 10 for single-season prize money hauls, with his highest-earning season coming in 2017, when he collected $13,054,856.
The Swiss won 103 ATP singles tournaments, including 20 majors, six ATP Finals titles and 28 Masters 1000 events.
2. Rafael Nadal – $134,946,100
Rafael Nadal has the third, sixth and eighth highest single-year ATP prize money totals for 2019 ($16,349,586), 2017 ($15,864,000) and 2013 ($14,570,935) respectively.
The 38-year-old Spaniard has claimed 92 ATP singles titles, including 22 Grand Slams and 36 Masters 1000 crowns.
1. Novak Djokovic – $184,265,269
Djokovic features five times in the top 10 list for the highest single-season prize money totals on the ATP Tour.
The 37-year-old occupies first place for 2015 ($21,146,145), fourth for 2018 ($15,967,184), fifth for 2023 ($15,952,044), ninth for 2014 ($14,250,527) and 10th for 2016 ($14,138,824).
Djokovic has won 99 singles titles, including 24 Grand Slams, seven ATP Finals crowns and 40 Masters 1000 tournaments.
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