Since turning pro in 2003, Novak Djokovic has secured a record 24 Grand Slam singles titles, solidifying his status as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Despite his remarkable achievements, he had never been the highest-paid player in the sport—until Roger Federer retired in 2022. The following year, Djokovic finally claimed the top spot, with a combined total of $38.4 million in on-court and estimated off-court earnings.
However, his reign was short-lived. The 37-year-old Serbian star’s next formidable challenger, 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz from Spain, surged to the top this year, earning an estimated $42.3 million before taxes and agent fees over the last 12 months, starting from the 2023 U.S. Open.
Djokovic, who lost to Alcaraz in the last two Wimbledon finals but avenged those losses by defeating him in the gold-medal match at the Paris Olympics, now sits at No. 2 with $37.2 million, though he still leads in prize money alone with $12.2 million. Tennis insiders believe Alcaraz has taken the lead off the court, with an estimated $32 million from endorsements with brands like Nike, Rolex, and BMW, as well as a busy schedule of appearances and exhibitions that reportedly pay him up to $2 million just for showing up.
Altogether, the top 10 highest-paid tennis players have earned an estimated $246 million over the past year. Although this figure falls short of the 2020 record of $343 million—when Federer and Serena Williams alone contributed $142 million—the total represents a 26% increase from the $196 million earned by the top players in 2023.
In a positive sign for the sport, the average age of this year’s top 10 is 26, with only Djokovic and 38-year-old Rafael Nadal (No. 6, $23.3 million) in their 30s. This is a noticeable shift from the 2020 list, where the average age was nearly 30. Additionally, four women are among the top 10—down slightly from five in 2023—but this continues to highlight tennis as the only major professional sport where male and female athletes are on similar financial footing.
While no player has yet reached Federer’s financial heights—he was the sport’s top earner from 2007 until his retirement, pulling in an estimated $90 million annually—Alcaraz’s $42.3 million is the highest total for any player not named Federer, Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, or Nadal in the 17 years since Forbes began compiling tennis earnings rankings. With four Grand Slam titles to his name before turning 22, Alcaraz represents the future of tennis.
**#1. $42.3 million**
**Carlos Alcaraz**
**AGE:** 21 | **NATIONALITY:** Spain | **ON-COURT:** $10.3 mil | **OFF-COURT:** $32 mil
Carlos Alcaraz, who has drawn comparisons to Rafael Nadal due to his Spanish heritage and clay-court prowess, has further cemented these parallels by taking over Nadal’s throne at the French Open this year. Alcaraz, who also won an Olympic silver medal in singles and is currently ranked third in the world, is the favorite to win the U.S. Open, a tournament he previously won in 2022. Netflix is planning to release a docuseries about him next year, underscoring his growing influence in the sport.
**#2. $37.2 million**
**Novak Djokovic**
**AGE:** 37 | **NATIONALITY:** Serbia | **ON-COURT:** $12.2 mil | **OFF-COURT:** $25 mil
Djokovic, who set a record by finishing as the ATP Tour’s year-end No. 1 player for an eighth time in 2023, also became the oldest No. 1 in the history of the tour’s computerized singles rankings in April. His recent achievements include extending his record for most weeks at No. 1 to 428 and winning an Olympic gold medal in Paris. Djokovic continues to maintain a lucrative endorsement portfolio with brands like Asics, Head, Hublot, and Lacoste. He has also launched a line of “electrolyte hydration cubes” called Sila with his sponsor Waterdrop and is involved in the Professional Tennis Players Association, which recently secured a deal providing members access to over 1,500 airport lounges. Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic has even hinted at the possibility of a Djokovic museum in Belgrade.
**#3. $27.1 million**
**Coco Gauff**
**AGE:** 20 | **NATIONALITY:** U.S. | **ON-COURT:** $7.1 mil | **OFF-COURT:** $20 mil
Coco Gauff’s breakthrough with a singles championship at the 2023 U.S. Open and a doubles title at the French Open has only increased her marketability. Ranked third in women’s singles and 15th in doubles, Gauff has secured 11 long-term partnerships, including recent deals with Carol’s Daughter, Naked Brand juices, and Fanatics. She also launched a fashion collection with American Eagle and served as Team USA’s flag-bearer at the Paris Olympics.
**#4. $26.7 million**
**Iga Swiatek**
**AGE:** 23 | **NATIONALITY:** Poland | **ON-COURT:** $11.7 mil | **OFF-COURT:** $15 mil
Iga Swiatek continued her dominance at the French Open, winning her fourth title there in June and earning a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Despite expressing concerns about the demanding schedule, Swiatek has remained a top earner, recently adding Lego and Lancôme to her list of endorsement partners.
**#5. $26.6 million**
**Jannik Sinner**
**AGE:** 23 | **NATIONALITY:** Italy | **ON-COURT:** $11.6 mil | **OFF-COURT:** $15 mil
Jannik Sinner’s year has been a rollercoaster, marked by a positive test for a banned steroid that resulted in the forfeiture of prize money from Indian Wells. However, his victory at the Australian Open made him the first Italian man in 48 years to win a Grand Slam title. Sinner also climbed to No. 1 in the singles rankings in June and won the Cincinnati Open. His endorsement portfolio includes deals with La Roche-Posay, De Cecco, Gucci, Lavazza coffee, and Rolex.
**#6. $23.3 million**
**Rafael Nadal**
**AGE:** 38 | **NATIONALITY:** Spain | **ON-COURT:** $0.3 mil | **OFF-COURT:** $23 mil
Rafael Nadal has yet to set a retirement date but has already begun his farewell tour, highlighted by his participation in the cauldron lighting at the Paris Olympics. Although Nadal has played just six ATP Tour events in the past 19 months, his sponsorship deals remain strong, including a 20-year partnership with Kia and new deals with Infosys and Playtomic.
**#7. $20.3 million**
**Daniil Medvedev**
**AGE:** 28 | **NATIONALITY:** Russia | **ON-COURT:** $7.3 mil | **OFF-COURT:** $13 mil
Daniil Medvedev has reached six Grand Slam finals, including this year’s Australian Open. He also led his team to victory in the World Tennis League and is set to play in the 6 Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia. Off the court, Medvedev has partnerships with HyperX, EA Sports, and Ubisoft and is part of the ownership group of esports organization M80.
**#8. $14.6 million**
**Naomi Osaka**
**AGE:** 26 | **NATIONALITY:** Japan | **ON-COURT:** $0.6 mil | **OFF-COURT:** $14 mil
Naomi Osaka returned to tennis in January after a long layoff due to injury and childbirth. Despite struggling to regain her form, Osaka remains a marketing powerhouse, with new deals from Etsy, Maybelline, Meta AI, and ZICO Coconut Water. Her media company, Hana Kuma, is also expanding its influence, launching a program for LPGA Tour golfers and developing an adult anime TV series.
**#9. $13.9 million**
**Casper Ruud**
**AGE:** 25 | **NATIONALITY:** Norway | **ON-COURT:** $3.9 mil | **OFF-COURT:** $10 mil
Casper Ruud added another ATP Tour title in Geneva this year, continuing his success on clay courts. Off the court, Ruud has signed new deals with Fleming watches, Handelsbanken, and Renault, alongside existing sponsors.
**#10. $13.7 million**
**Aryna Sabalenka**
**AGE:** 26 | **NATIONALITY:** Belarus | **ON-COURT:** $6.7 mil | **OFF-COURT:** $7 mil
Aryna Sabalenka, after winning the Australian Open in January, had to skip Wimbledon due to a shoulder injury but came back strong to win the Cincinnati Open. She has recently added endorsements with Oakberry and Master & Dynamic headphones.
