Coco Gauff breaks 20-year monopoly of Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova & Naomi Osaka, becomes highest-paid female athlete of 2023
Coco Gauff has been named the highest-paid female athlete of 2023, according to a report published by Sportico. The American has thus broken the two-decade monopoly of Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka over the position.
For the last 20 years, one of either Williams, Sharapova or Osaka has been the highest-paid female athlete of the year, as calculated by Sportico. Both on and off court earnings are considered for this list.
In 2023, however, Williams and Sharapova were absent due to retirement, while Osaka did not play because of her pregnancy.
Coco Gauff, who won her maiden Grand Slam in 2023 at the US Open, has now taken the top spot. The 19-year-old earned nearly $23 million from endorsements and prize money.
The second position also went to a tennis player, with World No. 1 Iga Swiatek earning $21.9 million.
There were as many as seven tennis players in the top 10. Apart from Gauff and Swiatek, Emma Raducanu came in at No. 4 ($16.2 million), followed by Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Jessica Pegula at No. 6 ($12.2 million), No. 7 ($9.5 million) and No. 8 ($9 million) respectively.
Interestingly, Osaka herself has nabbed a spot in the top 10 despite having no on-court earnings. Solely from endorsement deals, the four-time Grand Slam made $15 million and finished at the No. 5 position.
Coco Gauff finished the 2023 season as World No. 3
Coco Gauff had a season to remember in 2023, winning four titles.
The American started the year by winning the Auckland Open, a WTA 250 event. After a string of decent results, Gauff came into her own in the North American hardcourt swing, winning titles at the WTA 500 Citi Open in Washington, the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open and the US Open.
The teenager qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals as well, where she got out of the group stage with wins over reigning Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova and three-time Grand Slam finalist Ons Jabeur. In the semifinals, however, she fell to compatriot Jessica Pegula.
Overall, Gauff finished the season with a 51-16 win/loss record and a ranking of World No. 3. Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka are the only players ahead of her, both of whom won one Slam each in 2023.
Behind Gauff is Elena Rybakina, who is followed by Pegula, Jabeur, Vondrousova and Karolina Muchova.