At the end of February, RallyHer examined the economics of women’s sport through a simple lens: champion paychecks. Our analysis of the Prize Money Pyramid 2025–26 showed just how steep the financial hierarchy has become — and how firmly tennis sits at its summit.
Events such as the WTA Finals, the Australian Open, and Indian Wells deliver prize money that dwarfs the biggest paydays in many other women’s sports. The undefeated WTA Finals champion can earn over $5.2 million in a single week, while even a first-round exit at a Grand Slam can pay six figures.
That financial architecture inevitably shapes the broader earnings landscape.
The latest athlete income lists underline the point: eight of the ten highest-paid female athletes in the world come from tennis. Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka have both surpassed the $30 million mark, while Iga Swiatek completes a tennis-dominated top three.
The dominance sparked discussion on Tennis Channel, where former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard and ATP professional Christopher Eubanks explored why tennis continues to offer one of the most lucrative career paths in women’s sport — and why the sport remains such a powerful opportunity for young girls worldwide.
The financial gap between tennis and other women’s sports becomes even clearer when looking at the global earnings rankings.
Tennis dominates the global earnings rankings
Behind Gauff, Sabalenka and Swiatek on the earnings list are several more WTA stars. Zheng Qinwen and Madison Keys occupy the middle of the table, while Naomi Osaka, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula round out the tennis-heavy top ten.
The only athletes from outside the sport are freestyle skiing superstar Eileen Gu and golf champion Nelly Korda.
The financial gap between tennis and other women’s sports becomes even clearer when looking at the global earnings rankings.
| Rank | Athlete | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coco Gauff | Tennis |
| 2 | Aryna Sabalenka | Tennis |
| 3 | Iga Świątek | Tennis |
| 4 | Eileen Gu | Freestyle Skiing |
| 5 | Zheng Qinwen | Tennis |
| 6 | Madison Keys | Tennis |
| 7 | Nelly Korda | Golf |
| 8 | Naomi Osaka | Tennis |
| 9 | Elena Rybakina | Tennis |
| 10 | Jessica Pegula | Tennis |
Source: Sportico, Highest-Paid Female Athletes ranking
For Bouchard, the reason tennis dominates such rankings begins with the nature of the sport itself.
“First I have to thank my parents for putting me into tennis,” she joked. “They made a good decision with my time. It’s just a great sport.”
But beyond humor lies a structural reality: women’s tennis offers closer financial parity with the men’s game than most sports.
“From a playing perspective, it’s probably the sport that’s most similar to the men’s game,” Bouchard explained. “Of course the men are stronger and serve bigger, but in baseline rallies you’re still pretty close. I think that closeness also translates to dollars because people want to watch the product.”
The hidden costs of a tennis career
While the top names generate extraordinary earnings, Eubanks reminded viewers that professional tennis also comes with heavy expenses.
Players outside the elite often spend a large portion of their prize money simply maintaining their careers.
“One thing fans should understand,” he said, “when you hear that a player made around a million dollars in a year, that doesn’t mean that money goes straight into their pocket.”
Travel, coaching teams, physiotherapists and taxes can significantly reduce those figures.
“If someone like Caroline Dolehide earns a million dollars, a big percentage of that goes right back into the sport,” Eubanks explained.
Even so, he believes tennis still provides far more opportunity than many other disciplines.
“It’s still better than in a lot of sports,” Eubanks said. “Tennis is one of the best sports for young girls — not just professionally, but also because of college scholarships. There are so many pathways.”
Sponsorship power in an individual sport
Prize money is only part of the equation.
In many cases, sponsorship deals and personal branding generate even greater income for tennis players.
Bouchard believes the individual nature of tennis gives athletes a marketing advantage.
“You can really show your personality and build a brand around yourself,” she said. “You’re not wearing a jersey with just your name on the back. You can promote yourself, especially through social media.”
The landscape has changed dramatically in just a decade.
“Ten years ago we thought we were ahead of the curve,” Bouchard said. “But today players can earn so much more off the court.”
That visibility creates global commercial opportunities — something Eubanks highlighted as a major advantage of the sport.
“Tennis is a global game,” he explained. “You can have fans in many countries and cultures who want to invest in you. It’s almost like a stock — people support you and want to see your growth.”
Prize money still drives the biggest earnings
Of course, the sport’s financial strength still rests heavily on its major tournaments.
At Grand Slam events, men and women receive equal prize money, a milestone achieved after decades of advocacy. Several major tournaments — including Indian Wells — now follow the same structure.
The results are visible in annual earnings lists. In 2025, the top ten prize money earners across the ATP and WTA were split evenly between men and women.
“That’s fantastic to see,” Bouchard said. “At the Slams the prize money is equal. There’s still room for improvement at some events, but women are proving how marketable they are.”
The example of Elena Rybakina illustrates the scale of modern prize money.
Her $5.3 million payday from winning the WTA Finals accounted for the majority of her $8.4 million season earnings in 2025.
“That’s incredible,” Eubanks said. “Credit to her for winning that title and carrying that momentum forward. The prize pool is enormous.”
Even if Rybakina’s calm on-court demeanor rarely reveals her emotions, the significance of such rewards is impossible to ignore.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of excitement for her team and family,” Eubanks added. “Not just for the trophy — but also for a check like that.”
A sport that continues to open doors
The discussion ended on a lighthearted note, but the message was clear.
If there is one sport where talent, global visibility and commercial opportunity intersect, it remains tennis.
As host Steve Weissman joked to conclude the segment:
“If you have young girls at home — give them a tennis racket.”