BECOMING a top flight tennis ace requires hard work and dedication, years of training and a gruelling fitness regime.
But reaching the top ranks of the sport also comes with incredible perks.
The likes of Serena Williams have dominated the sport and amassed huge fortunesRex
The likes of Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Andy Murray have reaped huge benefits, with millions in their bank accounts.
As the French Open kicks off today, the world’s leading tennis stars will be hoping for a share of the £35million prize pot, with £1.85m each reserved for the male and female champions.
One of the sport’s wealthiest stars – Rafael Nadal – won’t be competing; last week he confirmed he was taking a break ahead of his ‘farewell’ year in 2024.
Here we reveal the ultimate tennis rich list – and you may not have heard of the player in the top spot…
Ion Tiriac – £1.6bn
GettyIon is currently the richest tennis player ever after venturing into business[/caption]
GettyHe was a skilled doubles player and even won a gold medal at one point[/caption]
Romanian Ion made a name for himself as one of the most prolific tennis players in the late 60s and 70s.
In 1970 he clinched the Bavarian International Tennis Championships and managed to get to the semi-finals of the French Open two years earlier.
His strongest performances were in doubles, where he excelled with 22 triumphs, including the 1970 French Open, and secured a 19th rank in 1979.
Ion, 84, has also won gold medals while representing his country at high-profile tournaments.
But the bulk of his wealth came when he retired from the game. He founded Banca Tiriac, a private bank in 1990, which landed him a spot on the Forbes billionaires list in 2007.
Roger Federer – £442.5m
Instagram/@rogerfedererFederer, pictured with supermodel Gisele, is often regarded as the greatest player of all time[/caption]
His wealth reportedly stands at £442.5millionGetty
Often regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of the sport, Roger Federer is also one of the wealthiest.
The Swiss icon, 41, has had an epic career and was ranked number one by the Association of Tennis Professionals for an outstanding 310 weeks, including a record 237 consecutive weeks at the top.
During his incredible run he quickly became one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, and holds the record for the most men’s singles wins at Wimbledon – eight.
He has also claimed victory at the French Open, the Australian Open and the US Open on numerous occasions.
His high profile status has also earned him a number of endorsement deals with the likes of Rolex, Uniqlo, Mercedes-Benz and Switzerland Tourism.
In fact, he has the most commercial deals out of all his fellow male tennis players and has reportedly made close to £80million in endorsements alone.
Federer has been married to wife Mirka since 2009 and they share four children – twin boys and twin girls.
Serena Williams – £217m
instagram/serenawilliamsSerena is often called one of the greatest sportspeople of all time due to her incredible record[/caption]
PAShe has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the Open Era[/caption]
Often regarded as one of the greatest sportspeople of all time, Serena Williams has left an incredible mark on the sport.
She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles – the most wins by any player in the Open Era regardless of gender.
Throughout her illustrious career the retired legend, 41, has won 39 major titles – 23 in singles, 14 in doubles with her sister Venus and two in mixed doubles.
Serena, 41, has been named the highest-paid female athlete of all time and has won over £76.1million in prize money, according to reports.
As one of the biggest names on the planet, she has been linked with huge brands including Nike, Ford, Subway, Gatorade and Gucci and is said to be worth £217million.
Serena shares daughter Alexis Olympia with husband Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit.
Novak Djokovic – £177m
GettyNovak (pictured with wife Jelena) is said to be worth £177m[/caption]
GettyHe holds the all-time record for tournament prize money at £133million[/caption]
The Serbian star ranks highly among the top tennis players in the history of the sport with many wins under his belt.
He has won 22 Grand Slam titles, which includes a record 10 Australian Open titles.
Novak, 35, has been ranked number one for a record 387 weeks and currently holds that position – he has also finished as the year-end number one on seven different occasions, which is the most for any tennis player.
According to reports he has earned over £133million in tournament prize money, an all-time record, and has also secured a string of lucrative deals outside the sport.
He’s been affiliated with big brands such as Hublot, Head, Raiffeisen Bank and Lacoste, which is said to be worth £7.5million a year.
Novak is married to childhood sweetheart Jelena, with whom he shares two children.
Rafael Nadal – £177m
Rafael – married to Maria Francisca Perello – has established himself as one of the biggest celebrities with a fortune of £177millionRex
AFPRafael ties Novak for most men’s Grand Slam singles titles at 22[/caption]
From April 2005 to March 2023, Rafael Nadal never left the top 10 of the ATP rankings, a testament to how great of a career he has had.
The Spanish superstar is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable sports stars in the world and ties Novak for a joint record 22 Grand Slam men’s singles titles.
He has won the French Open more than any other player with a record 14 titles and for a decade was a force to be reckoned with alongside Roger and Novak.
Now plagued by injuries, including a hip problem which prompted his withdrawal from this summer’s tournaments, he is planning a final tour in 2024 before retiring.
Throughout his career he has won over £107.4million in tournament prize money.
The 36-year-old ace – married to Maria Francisca Perello – has fronted ad campaigns by notable brands including Santander, Tommy Hilfiger, Emporio Armani and Telefonica.
Maria Sharapova – £144.8
Alamy Live NewsMaria won her first Grand Slam title aged 17[/caption]
Instagram @mariasharapovaFans recently noted Maria looks very different with a new hairstyle[/caption]
At the age of 17, Russian-born Maria Sharapova, 36, won her first Grand Slam title, making way for greater things to come.
She has won five major titles – having clinched the French Open twice and one each at the Australian Open, the US Open, and Wimbledon and has earned £31.1million in prize money.
As one of the most glamorous tennis players – she was crowned the world’s hottest athlete for four consecutive years during her career – she has appeared in major magazines such as Sports Illustrated.
Maria was also the face of several luxury fashion houses including Cole Haan.
Fans recently remarked she looks unrecognisable after changing up her style.
New mum Maria is often regarded as one of the best of her generation of tennis players.
Andy Murray – £130m
Getty – ContributorBritish star Andy Murray’s amazing career has earned him £130million (pictured with wife Kim)[/caption]
GettyHe’s had sponsorship deals with brands such as Jaguar and Head[/caption]
British star Andy Murray has had a phenomenal career that saw him win Wimbledon twice, in 2013 and 2016, and netted him an estimated £130m.
He has bagged three Grand Slam singles titles and spent 41 weeks at No.1 in the ATP rankings before injury saw him drop out of the top 100 in 2018.
The towering 36-year-old has won over £51.3million in prize money and is the fourth all-time leader in earnings.
Like many others on the list, he has also earned money through stunning deals with brands such as Jaguar, Head, Standard Life and Rado.
Andy is married to Kim, with whom he shares four children.
Andre Agassi – £128m
GettyAndre Agassi has earned £128 from his time as a tennis player (pictured with wife Steffi Graf)[/caption]
GettyHe had a career that spanned twenty years and transitioned to investing in businesses[/caption]
Before Roger, Novak and Rafael could show the world their greatness there was Andre Agassi, often regarded as one of the best players in the game.
In a career that spanned 20 years, he won eight major championships and also became an Olympic gold medallist.
He is reported to have made over £24million in prize money throughout his career and earned over £20million a year in endorsement deals.
Outside of tennis, Andre, 53, and wife Steffi Graf set up Agassi Graf Holdings and poured money into a nightclub called Pure, selling their stake in 2010.
They also partnered with a furniture-making firm to launch a line known as the Agassi Graf collection.
Pete Sampras – £120m
Pete’s wealth has been estimated at £120million (with wife Bridgette Wilson)Rex Features
AP:Associated PressThe legend moved to the real estate sector after he retired in 2002[/caption]
Pete, 51, ended his professional career in 2002 at the US Open, which he won by defeating his long-time rival Andre Agassi.
During his tenure as one of the best in the world, he won 14 major titles, which at the time of his retirement was a record.
He amassed £34.7million in career prize money and invested his cash in real estate around the Los Angeles area.
Together with his wife Bridgette Wilson, they have reportedly bought and sold several glamorous mansions, including a Brentwood mansion bought for £4.6m in 2009 and later sold to Muse frontman Matt Bellamy for £5.8m.
John McEnroe – £80.3m
GettyJohn McEnroe is said to have made an estimated £80.3million throughout his career (with wife Patty Smyth)[/caption]
2018 Curzon Artificial EyeHe was known for his hot temper on the court[/caption]
He may have been known for his intense rivalries with the likes of Jimmy Connors and Bjorn Borg and his hot-tempered antics on the court.
But that was never enough to stop American John McEnroe, 64, from becoming one of the biggest names of the game and reportedly earning £80.3million throughout his career.
He ended his career with 77 singles titles and 78 doubles titles, becoming the only man to win over 70 titles in both categories.
Although his prize money total comes up to £10.9million, it is thought that he earned more than the figure during his time as a player.
John is married to singer Patty Smyth.