The Average Salary of Professional Tennis Players

by Beth Rifkin Google

When you look at the likes of Roger Federer or Maria Sharapova, you might get the idea that professional tennis is the home of the rich and famous. The truth is, only the top players on both the men and women’s pro tours have millions in yearly income. Even with endorsement deals and sponsors, players in the lower ranks earn a fraction of those in the top 10. Adding to the financial burden are the high travel costs that are associated with playing in tournaments around the world.

Average Salary reports that as of June 25, 2012, the year-to-date median salary for a male tennis player in the top 100 rankings was $305,345, held by Sam Quarrey. Rafael Nadal topped the list by earning $4,961,419. Ranked at number 100 is Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, who earned $167,366 in the first six months of 2012. The median income for the top 100 ranked women during the same time period is $249,682, which was earned by Simona Halep, according to Victoria Azarenka was the top earner with $4,633,237. At number 100 is Anne Keothavong, with $112,566.

Difference in Income

As much as any sport, tennis rewards those with the most talent and best results. Tennis players win prize money based on how they do at individual tournaments. This prize money varies from tournament to tournament. The top-echelon players who regularly reach the quarterfinals, semifinals or finals of tournaments will yield the highest income. That's because the further you advance in a tournament, the more money you make. Players who get bounced out early in tournaments often don't earn enough to cover their expenses.


Along with prize money, many professional tennis players get paid to endorse products, which can greatly increase their incomes. Maria Sharapova, for example, has an endorsement deal with Nike worth around $70 million, according to Sports Illustrated. Along with appearances and merchandising opportunities, Sharapova is designing her own clothing line, which is sold under the Nike label. She also endores products by Tiffany & Co., Cole Haan and TAG Heuer. Sharapova was the highest paid female athlete from 2004 through 2011, according to She earned about $25 million during a 12-month period ending in August 2011.


The average annual cost of playing on the men and women’s pro tours is $143,000, according to the USTA. Along with extensive travel expenses, players must pay a salary and travel expenses for coaches. This expense alone comes to about at $70,000 per year on average. Additionally, many players require personal trainers to keep them in top physical shape. Mental trainers are also used to teach players mental strength tactics, which are utilized during matches. Omitted from the list of expenses are clothing, shoes and tennis equipment, which are often provided by sponsors. Each of these expenses cuts into the income of pro tennis players.

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