Advertisement

Infographic: Gender pay gap narrower on professional tennis circuit

While most sports still see a large gap in pay when it comes to gender, the top female tennis players hold their own with the men when it comes to earnings. Forbes released their list of the highest-paid tennis players and over 40% of the top earners are women.
While most sports still see a large gap in pay when it comes to gender, the top female tennis players hold their own with the men when it comes to earnings. Forbes released their list of the highest-paid tennis players and over 40% of the top earners are women.

While the gender pay gap among professional athletes is striking, male and female tennis players appear to be on a more level playing field.

The male and female champions at the upcoming 2016 French Open will receive equal prize money, standard practice for all Grand Slam tournaments. And, according to Forbes, women made up over 40 percent of the game’s highest-paid players in 2015.

Roger Federer (left) and Novak Djokovic. (AP Photo)
Roger Federer (left) and Novak Djokovic. (AP Photo)

Roger Federer was tennis’ top earner, bringing in $67 million in prize money, endorsements, appearances and exhibitions from June 1, 2014 to June 1, 2015. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic was next on the list, pulling in $18.8 million less than his Swiss foe.

Maria Sharapova was the fourth highest-paid player, and top female-earner, at $29.7 million, but she’s taken a serious financial hit due to a doping scandal earlier this year that has lost her lucrative endorsement deals with Nike and TAG Heuer.

Coming in behind Sharapova is Serena Williams, whose three Grand Slam victories and endorsement deals with brands like Chase, Nike, Gatorade and watchmaker Audemars Piguet, netted her $24.6 million. Because of Sharapova’s scandal, Williams is likely to overtake her slot as the highest-paid female athlete for 2016.

Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic and Petra Kvitova were the other women to make Forbes’ list.

Meanwhile, across other pro sports, the gender pay gap is much more staggering. According to a complaint filed by members of the World Cup-winning U.S. National Soccer Team, female national team players earn as little as 40 percent of their male counterparts despite having more on-field success. And, according to Buzzfeed, 52 NBA players made more money in the 2013-14 season than every WNBA player combined.

Though tennis sees level prize money at Grand Slams, many smaller tournaments don’t distribute money equally. And earlier this year, Djokovic caused controversy when he said he believed women should be paid less because men bring in more spectators. He swiftly apologized for his comments after receiving backlash from many players, including Williams.