Jannik Sinner tops Forbes' 2026 highest-paid tennis players list; Serena Williams third
Sinner has earned close to $58 million in the last twelve months.
Jannik Sinner leads Forbes’ list of highest-paid tennis players in 2026. While Sinner, who will miss the US Open due to injury, leads the overall list, Serena Williams is the highest-paid female tennis player in the current year.
Meanwhile, for the first time in the history of this list, there are more women than men sitting in the top ten money-makers. A big reason for that is Serena’s return to the sport after being away from competitive tennis for almost four years.
But the top of the pile belonged to Italy’s Sinner, who has taken home close to $58 million in the last 12 months.
Out of that, $23 million came from playing on court, while the rest, around $35 million, came through sponsorship deals and other business tie-ups.
What makes this even more impressive is that Sinner has been struggling with a knee injury and won’t even be taking part in this year’s US Open, yet he still managed to post the biggest on-court earnings on this Forbes list.
Just behind him is Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who pulled in roughly $53.7 million. Most of his money, about $38 million, came from outside the tennis court through brand deals, which makes him the most sought-after tennis player when it comes to advertising and promotions right now.
In third place is Serena Williams herself, earning around $40.1 million, with almost all of it coming from business deals rather than match winnings, since she’s barely played this season.
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This year really feels like a shift for women’s tennis. Along with Williams, players like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff have also made it into the top five, taking home $36.1 million and $35.5 million respectively.
On the men’s side, veteran Novak Djokovic is still holding his ground at number six with about $30.2 million.
Forbes’ highest-paid tennis players in 2026
| Rank | Player | Total Earnings | On-Court | Off-Court |
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | $58 million | $23 million | $35 million |
| 2 | Carlos Alcaraz | $53.7 million | $15.7 million | $38 million |
| 3 | Serena Williams | $40.1 million | $0.1 million | $40 million |
| 4 | Aryna Sabalenka | $36.1 million | $13.1 million | $23 million |
| 5 | Coco Gauff | $35.5 million | $7.5 million | $28 million |
| 6 | Novak Djokovic | $30.2 million | $5.2 million | $25 million |
| 7 | Qinwen Zheng | $22.6 million | $0.6 million | $22 million |
| 8 | Iga Swiatek | $20.5 million | $5.5 million | $15 million |
| 9 | Alexander Zverev | $18.7 million | $13.7 million | $5 million |
| 10 | Elena Rybakina | $17.4 million | $11.4 million | $6 million |
Who is the highest-paid tennis player in the world in 2026?
Jannik Sinner tops the list with total earnings of around $58 million, made up of $23 million from on-court winnings and $35 million from endorsements and business deals.
Why is 2026 considered a special year for women’s tennis on the Forbes list?
For the first time ever, more women than men feature in the top ten highest-paid tennis players. This shift is largely credited to Serena Williams’ return to the sport after nearly four years away, along with strong earnings from players like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.
How much did Serena Williams earn despite playing very few matches this year?
Serena Williams earned an estimated $40.1 million, with almost all of it, about $40 million, coming from endorsements and business ventures rather than prize money, since she competed in only a handful of tournaments.
Who is the highest-paid female tennis player in 2026?
Serena Williams is the highest-paid female tennis player in the past 12 months, with total earnings of $40.1 million, of which $40 million came from brand promotions and sponsorship deals.
How much did Novak Djokovic earn in 2026?
Djokovic is 6th on Forbes’ list, with earnings of $30.2 million in the last 12 months.
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Ajay Gandhar has been part of Khel Now since 2023 and has expertise across a wide range of Olympic sports. While his coverage spans the Olympic spectrum, he is passionate about Badminton, Tennis, Football, and Track and Field. Beyond his primary focus areas, Ajay is also an avid kabaddi enthusiast and closely follows the sport.