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Jannik Sinner Tops Forbes List as Women Make Up Majority of Tennis’ Highest-Paid

The 2026 ranking shows endorsement income now drives top pay and keeps stars wealthy even when they miss tournaments

Overview

  • Forbes published the list on Friday, naming Jannik Sinner the highest-paid player with $58 million in the past 12 months.
  • Forbes split Sinner’s total into about $23 million in on-court prize money and $35 million in endorsements, including a new Allianz deal.
  • For the first time in the 19-year Forbes ranking, six women appear in the top 10 and the group’s combined top-10 haul rose to $333 million, a 17% increase from 2025.
  • Serena Williams ranks third with $40.1 million driven almost entirely by off-court deals, and Carlos Alcaraz remains near the top despite injury-related time away from Grand Slams.
  • The report underlines a commercial shift: big-name sponsorships now determine yearly earnings more than tournament availability, a trend that could reshape sponsor priorities and how players balance play and brand work.