Gauff is highest-paid WTA player, Sabalenka trails by $10 million

Tennis continues to stand out as the only major sport where female athletes earn on par with men. Forbes’ latest list of the world’s highest-paid tennis players shows four women in the Top 10, with Coco Gauff leading the way.

Overall, men still hold the top two spots: Carlos Alcaraz ($48.3 million) and Jannik Sinner ($47.3 million). But coming in at No. 3 overall is Coco Gauff, who also ranks as the highest-paid female athlete across all sports worldwide.

3. Coco Gauff – $37.2 million

The 21-year-old American has had an up-and-down season on the court, winning her second Grand Slam at Roland Garros but exiting Wimbledon in the first round. Off the court, however, she is thriving. Gauff boasts an enviable sponsor portfolio with Bose, New Balance, and Carol’s Daughter, while also branching into investment and management.

Earlier this year, she announced her stake in Unrivaled, a women’s basketball league, and launched her own management firm in partnership with WME. Gauff described the move as a way to “take greater ownership” of her career while building opportunities beyond tennis.

5. Aryna Sabalenka – $27.4 million

In the past 12 months, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka earned almost $10 million less than Gauff, banking $27.4 million ($15 million from endorsements). Once overlooked by marketers, Sabalenka has started securing high-profile deals, including with Electrolit sports drinks and Chase Bank, while also taking an equity stake in IM8, a supplement brand co-founded by David Beckham. Her growing visibility reflects a shift in sponsor attitudes, as brands warm up to stars from regions impacted by political tension.

6. Zheng Qinwen – $26.1 million

At just 22, Zheng Qinwen is becoming one of the most marketable players in the game. With $26.1 million in total earnings, the majority from endorsements, Zheng has already signed with Audi, Dior, and Beats. In China, her popularity echoes that of Li Na, the country’s first Grand Slam champion and a global marketing icon.

7. Iga Swiatek – $24 million

Poland’s Iga Swiatek continues to pair dominance on the court with steady growth off it. Over the past year, she earned $24 million, including $15 million from endorsements with major partners such as On, Rolex, Lego, and Tecnifibre. Her victory at Wimbledon 2025 made her the only active women’s player to hold Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces.

Men in the mix

Outside the women, Novak Djokovic ($29.6 million), Taylor Fritz ($15.6 million), Frances Tiafoe ($15.2 million), and Daniil Medvedev ($14.3 million) join Alcaraz and Sinner to round out the Top 10 on the men’s side. With four women in the global Top 10 and Gauff leading all female athletes worldwide, tennis remains a rare stage where women’s earning power matches or sometimes even rivals that of men.

Combined, the ten highest-paid tennis players (men and women) earned $285 million over the past 12 months, which is a 16% jump from last year.