Aryna Sabalenka is on the verge of breaking into the upper echelons of career prize money in women’s tennis. Following her strong performances, particularly at this year’s WTA Finals, she has surpassed the $20 million mark in career earnings, becoming only the second woman born after 1998 to achieve this milestone, after Iga Swiatek. Winning just one round-robin match at the WTA Finals netted her $198,000, with another $198,000 as a participation fee. This victory also moved her up to 23rd on the all-time career prize money list for women, positioning her to possibly break into the Top 20 if she wins the tournament
This achievement comes after a remarkable season, where she claimed her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and reached the final at the US Open. Her career earnings this year alone have been substantial, making her the highest-earning female player in 2023, with over $7.5 million before the WTA Finals began
Sabalenka’s consistent performances in major tournaments since the 2022 US Open, where she has racked up the most match wins, have significantly contributed to her financial success. Her victory at this year’s Australian Open alone brought her over $2 million in prize money, pushing her past former World No. 1 Lindsay Davenport and into the Top 20 of the all-time prize money list.
However, despite her impressive earnings, Sabalenka still trails far behind Serena Williams, who holds the record for the highest career earnings in women’s tennis. Williams’ career prize money exceeds $94 million, highlighting the immense gap that still exists between her and other players in terms of financial achievements
Sabalenka will need continued success in major tournaments to further close this gap, but her trajectory suggests she’s well on her way to joining the elite ranks of the sport.
