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Tennis players are rewarded with lucrative deals from some of the world’s best brands when they perform exceedingly well in a major tournament or over a period of time. The companies understand their contribution to the sport and the kind of impact they will have on the people at large.Let us look at the highest paid tennis players for the current year.
#10 Caroline Wozniacki
Total earnings: $10.8 million
Prize money: $1.3 million
Endorsements: $9.5 million
Caroline Wozniacki did not let her personal life interfere with her on court performance as she won her first tournament in July. The Danish tennis ace signed a new Adidas deal last year that is one of the richest in the sport.
#9 Kei Nishikori
Total earnings: $11 million
Prize money: $2 million
Endorsements: $9 million
Kei Nishikori is the only Japanese player to be ranked in the top 10. He reached a career high ranking of 9 this year after winning his second title. His role as the top player in Japan helped him sign endorsements with Uniqlo, Wilson, Adidas, Delta Airlines, Weider and Tag Heuer.
#8 Victoria Azarenka
Total earnings: $11.1 million
Prize money: $3.6 million
Endorsements: $7.5 million
Victoria Azarenka has slipped down the rankings considerably this year due to injuries. She was ranked No. 2 in the world at the end of last year. She received bonuses from sponsor Nike. She signed a two-year deal with Esurance in March joining Wilson, Red Bull and watchmaker Citizen in her endorsement stable.
She made it to the finals of the US Open in the last two years.
#7 Andy Murray
Total earnings: $19.2 million
Prize money: $4.1 million
Endorsements: $15 million
Andy Murray ended Great Britain’s wait for a Wimbledon champion when he won the title in 2012. Adidas and Head offered him lucrative bonuses post that victory. He did not defend his title successfully at this year’s championships, and heads into the US Open as the No. 7 seed.
The Brit’s Adidas deal expires this year and he is expected to sign a new agreement with either Adidas or Nike. Murray added a patch deal with Standard Life in 2014 worth more than $2 million a year.
#6 Serena Williams
Total earnings: $22 million
Prize money: $11 million
Endorsements: $11 million
The World No. 1 has had a lean year without winning a major and heads into New York aiming to win her 18th Grand Slam. She has a career prize money of $57 million, almost double that of Maria Sharapova. But the Russian beats the American when it comes to brand endorsements.
Serena maintains deals with Nike, Wilson, Gatorade and OPI.
#5 Li Na
Total earnings: $23.6 million
Prize money: $5.6 million
Endorsements: $18 million
Li Na hasn’t had a great year post her Australian Open victory in January. That win meant a huge bonus from Nike as well as other endorsement partners. The turning point of her career came after claiming the 2011 French Open, as several brands knocked on her doors. She became the first Asian-born tennis player ever to win a Grand Slam singles event.She will miss the U.S. Open with a knee injury.
#4 Maria Sharapova
Total earnings: $24.4 million
Prize money: $2.4 million
Endorsements: $22 million
Maria Sharapova had a brilliant clay court season which culminated with her winning the French Open for the second time in her career. Sharapova's earnings increased when Nike sold Cole Haan in 2013, as Sharapova received hefty royalties on her best-selling line of Cole Haan shoes when it was under the Nike umbrella.
She is the top female endorser in sports with deals with Nike, Avon, Samsung, Tag Heuer and Head.
#3 Novak Djokovic
Total earnings: $33.1 million
Prize money: $12.1 million
Endorsements: $21 million
The World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has appeared in 10 of the last 13 Grand Slam finals and won his second Wimbledon title beating Roger Federer in July this year. He earned $38 million in prize money between 2011 and 2013.
2011 was a dream year for the Serb as he won three Grand Slams- Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. He also enjoyed a 43 match winning streak before losing to Federer in the semis at Roland Garros. His added Peugeot and Seiko to his list of endorsements this year.
#2 Rafael Nadal
Total earnings: $44.5 million
Prize money: $14.5 million
Endorsements: $30 million
Rafael Nadal will not be in action at the 2014 US Open due to a wrist injury, but the man from Manacor had a terrific 2013, where he won 2 Grand Slams- French Open and the US Open. He also finished the year as the No. 1 player in the world. The Spaniard was awarded the comeback player of the year award from Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) at the ATP 1000 event in London.
The World No. 2 also won a record 9th French Open title this year.
He received bonuses from sponsors in addition to the $14.5 million in prize money between June 2013 and June 2014.
#1 Roger Federer
Total earnings: $56.2 million
Prize money: $4.2 million
Endorsements: $52 million
Roger Federer is leading the Grand Slam winners’ tally with 17 titles already and is showing no signs of stopping there. His career prize money is a whopping $84 million. He has inked deals with Nike, Rolex, Credit Suisse who collectively pay him $40 million a year. The Swiss maestro is the favorite heading into the US Open.
With Federer having a superb 2014, you can expect those numbers to rise as well!
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