Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner: The Next Major Tennis Rivalry and Their Financial Success
Over the past year, tennis has been largely defined by the fierce competition between Italian player Jannik Sinner, 24, and Spanish ace Carlos Alcaraz, 22. Together, they claimed all four Grand Slam singles titles and an additional eight ATP titles, marking a significant period for the sport. This intense rivalry is now also translating into financial accomplishments.
For the second consecutive year, Alcaraz retains his title as the highest-paid tennis player globally, amassing around $48.3 million in the last year before taxes and fees—an increase from $42.3 million the previous year. Sinner is closing the gap, earning approximately $47.3 million, a substantial rise from his previous year’s total of $26.6 million.
On the court, Sinner has excelled with an on-court earning of $20.3 million, only behind Novak Djokovic, who holds the record for past earnings. Meanwhile, Alcaraz shines outside of competition, garnering an impressive $35 million from sponsorships and other business ventures. Coco Gauff, ranking third overall and first among women, earned about $37.2 million, with $25 million originating off the court.
The current earnings landscape features three players under 30 leading the list for the first time since the era of young stars like Federer, Sharapova, and Nadal in 2010. The top ten earners in tennis collectively generated approximately $285 million over the past 12 months, marking a 16% increase from $246 million the previous year, though still trailing the record of $343 million set in 2020.
Sinner and Alcaraz’s financial growth indicates a positive trajectory for the sport, especially with Djokovic being the only top-10 player over 29. The average age of earners is now at 26, showcasing a younger generation’s rise. Emerging stars like Alcaraz are already surpassing previous milestones set by iconic players like Nadal and Federer.
With increased revenue opportunities like the ATP’s new profit-sharing initiative and rising figures like Gauff and Qinwen Zheng, tennis is seeing a shift towards greater parity in income across genders. Gauff, Sabalenka, and Zheng represent a growing wave of financially successful female athletes, demonstrating that tennis remains a sport where earnings for men and women are increasingly comparable.
