Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are poised to become the first US$100 million men in tennis next year, in a gripping sub-plot to the new Grand Slam season.
No player in the history of the sport has broken through the US$100 million on-court earnings barrier, but world No. 1 Djokovic and No. 3 Federer should reach the landmark next year.
Djokovic, 28, has just more than US$94 million in prize money, while Federer, six years the Serb’s senior, has banked US$97.3 million.
With US$3.85 million on offer for the winner of next month’s Australian Open, the season’s first major, the veteran Swiss would be the first man to the magical number even if the odds are heavily stacked against a player who won the last of his 17 Grand Slam titles in 2012.
The staggering rewards for the modern player, all boosted by lucrative off-court earnings through sponsorships and endorsements, are a far cry from the heavyweights of the sport who starred in earlier eras.
Rod Laver, the last man to complete the calendar Grand Slam — something that eluded Djokovic courtesy of a French Open final loss this year — ended his playing career with US$1.5 million, still a huge sum by the standards of the late 1960s.
John McEnroe earned US$12.5 million, while Federer’s hero, Pete Sampras, banked US$43 million before he retired in 2002.
Djokovic earned a season-record US$21.5 million this year, a year that saw him win three of the four majors — taking his total to 10.
“My season was the best of my career, with many highlights. It inspires me even more to keep on going, and I hope to continue to play at this level in 2016,” Djokovic said.
Despite his dominance of the sport, Djokovic still has some catching up to do when it comes to matching Federer’s overall personal fortune.
According to Forbes’ rich list, Federer was the fifth-highest-paid male athlete this year thanks to US$58 million in endorsements.
Djokovic was 13th, his on-court wealth boosted by US$31 million worth of commercial riches.
However, the Serb knows time — and the form that allowed him to win 82 matches and suffer just six losses last season — is on his side.
“I think I have a good chance. I’m 28 and I still don’t feel like the end is any time soon, that definitely excites me and motivates me to keep going,” Djokovic said.
The staggering wealth in the men’s game dwarfs the women’s tour.
Serena Williams’s on-court earnings totaled just more than US$74 million after this year’s season, which saw the US player also claim three of the four Grand Slam titles.
Rival Maria Sharapova, the world’s richest female athlete due to her lucrative off-court portfolio, has earned less than half than Williams — US$36.4 million.
Back in the men’s game, 14-time major winner Rafael Nadal has banked US$75 million on court, while current world No. 2 Andy Murray has earned US$42.5 million.
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