Aryna Sabalenka is set to break her own prize money record for a single season over the next few weeks, but she is a long way behind all-time money winner Serena Williams.
Sabalenka added the US Open to the Australian Open title she won at the start year, with her prize money for 2024 so far a stunning $7,984,145.
The Belarusian star looks certain to break her own season-best record for prize money that was set last year as she claimed $8,202,653. That beat her previous best record of $7,984,145.
Despite her stunning income, Sabalenka spoke out about the disparity in prize money in men’s and women’s events earlier this year, after her prize money cheque for winning the WTA 1000 event in Cincinnati was substantially less than men’s winner Jannik Sinner.
“From the TV point of view, from the ticket selling, from every point of view, it’s unfair,” Sabalenka said. “Of course, guys are always going to be physically stronger than women but it doesn’t mean we’re not working as hard as they do.
“Women deserve to be paid an equal amount of money that men do.”
Grand Slam events pay equal prize money to men and women players, but regular tour events have their own broadcast deals, with the finances for the men’s matches substantially more than the women’s.
This inspired Swiatek to suggest the WTA Tour needs to find a way to bridge the gap.
“For sure, I’d like to see the WTA expanding business-wise, getting more popular, cutting the difference between WTA and ATP in terms of prize money and attracting fans,” said Swiatek.
“Our tennis brings the same emotions as men’s tennis. There’s something you can find in women’s tennis that you’re not going to find on the ATP.
“Right now, after a couple of years of hearing we’re not consistent, we’re actually consistent. There are top players who are playing great in most of the tournaments.”
Sabalenka’s career prize money total is now up to $32,106,991, which puts her in tenth place on the all-time list.
That list is topped by the great Serena Williams, who claimed a stunning $94,816,730 during her record-breaking career, with her epic 2013 season seeing the American great win $12,385,572, which is an all-time record in the women’s game.
Current world No 1 Iga Swiatenk is one place ahead of Sabalenka in the all-time list and both will have a chance to break through the $50,000,000 prize money barrier if they continue to win at their current rate over the next couple of years.
That would move the top two in the women’s game into the elite list of prize money winners, as only Serena Williams has won more than $50,000,000 in prize money.
The duo will be eyeing up the big prize money pot on offer at this year’s WTA Finals, with the move to stage the event in Saudi Arabia boosting funds.
The agreement with the Saudi Tennis Federation will offer record prize money of $15.25 million at the WTA Finals in 2024 with further increases in 2025 and 2026.
The partnership will also support broader investment in the future development and growth of women’s tennis, including the WTA’s plans to grow the global fanbase for women’s tennis through increased investment in marketing, digital and fan engagement.
Here are the eight players ahead of Swiatek and Sabalenka in the all-time prize money list, with most named in the list likely to be overtaken by the form players in women’s tennis, who could still be winning major title for many years to come.
1. Serena Williams – $94,816,730
2. Venus Williams – $42,648,697
3. Simona Halep – $40,227,773
4. Maria Sharapova – $38,777,962
5. Victoria Azarenka – $37,835,197
6. Petra Kvitova – $37,252,032
7. Caroline Wozniacki – 36,116,868
8. Angelique Kerber – $32,519,180
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