4 female tennis players who could be the next Maria Sharapova in off-court success ft. Emma Raducanu, Zheng Qinwen
Tennis has dominated the top earners list in women's sports. From Steffi Graff in 1990 to Coco Gauff this year, tennis players have taken the top spot on the earning list every year (whenever data is present).
However, one name that has appeared on the list most often is Maria Sharapova. The Russian tennis star was the top-paid female athlete for 11 consecutive years from 2005 to 2015. Her best year, in terms of earnings, was 2015 when she earned $29.7 million.
Let's take a look at some of the current active players who might dominate the list in the years to come like Sharapova.
#4 Naomi Osaka
Four-time Major winner Naomi Osaka returned to the Tour this year after a lengthy break from the sport. During her reign as the World No. 1 in women's tennis, Osaka was the top-paid female athlete for three consecutive years from 2020-2022.
The Japanese player had the most earnings in one single year and the only one so far to cross the 50 million mark. In 2021, Osaka had a total earnings of $57.1 million. She followed it up with an equally strong year in 2022 with $51.1 million.
Thanks to her collaborations with brands like Nike, Louis Vuitton, Yonex, and Mastercard, Osaka's off-court income is sorted. On the court, if the Japanese player can return to form, she will get back to the top rungs of the highest-paid athletes once again.
#3 Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu made huge waves in the tennis world at the 2021 US Open. The British player entered the event as a qualifier and ended up lifting the trophy.
Her triumph in New York made Raducanu an attractive prospect for sponsors. The Brit has entered into highly lucrative sponsorship deals with prominent brands like Dior, Evian, Porsche, and many others. These deals have helped Raducanu to be in the Top 10 on the list of the highest-paid female athletes for the last three years.
Even though the title in New York in 2021 remains the only trophy in the Brit's cabinet, it is widely expected that she produce better results on the court as she makes her comeback from multiple injuries. If she does that, she will be a dominant force in women's sports in terms of earnings as well.
#2 Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff is one of the players who is in a prime position in not only women's tennis but also women's sports in the upcoming years. The American tennis player topped the charts as the highest-paid female athlete with a total of $30.4 million.
The figure of her earnings makes the 20-year-old only the third player after Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams to cross the 30 million threshold. She had an excellent end to her season in 2024, winning the WTA Finals in 2024, and is the favorite to dominate some of the events in early 2025.
Gauff already has big endorsements with brands like New Balance, Barilla Foods, UPS, etc. Her US Open triumph in 2023 has put her on a pedestal for sponsors and fans alike.
If the World No. 3 can maintain her resurgent form in 2025, she is all set to be the top female athlete in earnings in the next few years.
#1 Zheng Qinwen
2024 was the year when Zheng Qinwen was the talk of the town within the tennis community. The Chinese tennis player's Olympic gold triumph has increased her fame worldwide.
Barring the Olympic glory, Zheng reached the finals of the two other high-profile events on the calendar at the Australian Open and the WTA finals. The Chinese player already had a host of sponsors including Nike, Rolex, and McDonalds. Due to her nationality, she is also sponsored by the ANT group which is a part of the giant Alibaba organization in China.
Zheng's total earning of 20.6 million dollars in 2024 sees her sit at the fourth position on the list of the top-paid female athletes. Of the 20.6, almost 15 million dollars have come to the Chinese player regarding endorsements. With her Olympic glory, she will have the chance to get more lucrative deals. This will enable Zheng to climb to the top rung in terms of athlete earnings.