Carlos Alcaraz leads tennis’ highest earners in 2026 as Serena Williams ranks among top-paid stars

Thursday, 09 July 2026 at 08:30

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Carlos Alcaraz remains the biggest commercial star in tennis despite a season interrupted by injury. According to Sportico’s ranking of the highest-paid tennis players over the past year, the Spaniard leads the list with estimated earnings of $62.9 million, finishing ahead of Jannik Sinner as the sport’s new generation continues to attract major global attention both on and off the court.

Alcaraz’s position is particularly notable considering he missed two of the biggest tournaments of the season after suffering a wrist injury. The 23-year-old was forced to skip Roland Garros and Wimbledon, where he had won the last two French Open titles and reached three consecutive finals, but his market value remained unaffected thanks to his growing commercial profile.

The Spaniard earned approximately $44 million from endorsements, appearance fees and licensing agreements, with major partnerships including Nike and Ant International. His position at the top reflects how quickly he has become one of the most valuable athletes in the world, helped by his success on court and his rivalry with Sinner, which has defined men’s tennis in recent seasons.

Sinner ranked second with estimated earnings of $59 million, showing the financial impact of their rivalry after the pair dominated Grand Slam tennis since 2024. While Alexander Zverev ended their run of nine consecutive major titles at Roland Garros, Alcaraz and Sinner remain the central figures of the sport’s new era.

Six women feature in top 10 as tennis stars build global brands

Although Alcaraz and Sinner occupy the top two positions, women dominate the rest of the ranking, with six players inside the top 10. Coco Gauff leads that group with estimated earnings of $40.3 million, continuing to benefit from her status as one of the most recognisable young athletes in global sports.

Gauff’s commercial appeal has continued to grow since winning her second Grand Slam title at the 2025 French Open. The American has built a strong portfolio of partnerships, including deals with New Balance, Rolex, Bose, Fanatics and Miu Miu, allowing her off-court earnings to far exceed her prize money.

Coco Gauff kissing the Roland Garros Cup in 2025

Serena Williams ranked fourth overall with $40 million in estimated earnings, despite recently returning to competition after nearly four years away from professional tennis. Her inclusion highlights the long-term value of her brand, with the 23-time Grand Slam champion continuing to benefit from partnerships with companies such as Nike, Barbie, Lincoln and Heineken.

Williams’ return to Wimbledon also contributed to renewed attention around the sport. Although she lost in the opening round of singles after making her comeback, her global profile remains unmatched, with business ventures through Serena Ventures and numerous investments adding to her financial influence beyond tennis.

Zheng and Djokovic highlight different paths to tennis’ biggest earnings

One of the more surprising names in the top 10 is Qinwen Zheng, who ranked seventh with estimated earnings of $24.6 million despite currently sitting outside the world’s top 100 due to recent injury setbacks. The Chinese star’s commercial power comes largely from her breakthrough 2024 season, when she reached the Australian Open final and won Olympic gold in Paris.

That Olympic success opened the door to major sponsorship opportunities, including partnerships with brands such as Turkish Airlines and Alibaba’s Qwen AI platform. Zheng’s position demonstrates how results at major global events can create significant commercial value even when ranking momentum temporarily declines.

Zheng Qinwen became the first Asian player to win an Olympic singles gold medal in tennis after defeating Donna Vekic in the 2024 Paris Games final at Roland Garros.

Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek also remain among the highest earners thanks to their dominance on the WTA Tour. Sabalenka, a former world No. 1, has added partnerships with brands including Gucci, Emirates and Stella Artois, while Swiatek continues to expand her global profile after spending 125 weeks at the top of the rankings.

Novak Djokovic ranked sixth overall with $25.6 million, continuing to generate significant income despite being in the later stages of his career. The 24-time Grand Slam champion remains one of tennis’ most valuable names through long-term partnerships and his global reputation, while also preparing for life beyond professional tennis through business investments.

Top 10 highest-paid tennis players (according to Sportico)

#	Name	Earnings
1	Carlos Alcaraz	$62.9 Million
2	Jannik Sinner	$59 Million
3	Coco Gauff	$40.3 Million
4	Serena Williams	$40 Million
5	Aryna Sabalenka	$35.9 Million
6	Novak Djokovic	$25.6 Million
7	Zheng Qinwen	$24.6 Million
8	Iga Swiatek	$22.8 Million
9	Alexander Zverev	$16.7 Million
10	Elena Rybakina	$16.3 Million

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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