Novak Djokovic overtakes Roger Federer in career earnings from prize money

Novak Djokovic.
AP
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• Novak Djokovic is the biggest on-court earner in tennis.
• The 31-year-old recently won the 2018 US Open, adding $3.8
  million to his total career prize money, which is now at $119.1
  million.
• Djokovic has leapfrogged Roger Federer as the highest-paid
  on-court athlete in the sport’s history.
• But Federer still considerably outearns his tennis rival when
  it comes to endorsements.

Novak Djokovic has just served a huge financial ace.

We’re not just talking about the windfall he received for winning
the men’s US Open final on Sunday, but rather the fact that his
$3.8 million winner’s check takes his total career prize money to
a colossal $119.1 million.

That lofty sum means he has overtaken 20-time Grand Slam tennis
champion Roger Federer as the sport’s highest earner, as the
former world number one has banked $117.51 million in his
trophy-laden 20-year career to date.

Djokovic has not won as many majors as Federer, but 13 of his 14
Grand Slam titles have arrived after 2010, so he has benefitted
from significantly larger winner’s checks. Federer, by contrast,
won 75% of his majors before 2010 — and therefore took home less
prize money than champions do now.

“The players have played a key role in driving that growth,” ATP
spokesman Simon Higson said, according to the BBC.

“The sport has seen significant increases in prize money levels
over the past 10 years which have seen the players share in the
overall commercial growth in the sport.”

Where Djokovic still lags behind Federer is sponsorship, as the
Swiss veteran makes approximately $65 million a year through
endorsements, according to Forbes.

Roger Federer in his Uniqlo gear.
Getty Images

Federer further boosted his earnings away from the court when he
famously left Nike for Uniqlo, a lesser-known brand, earlier in
the year. The deal is said to be worth $30 million a year.

Federer also endorses Credit Suisse, Rolex, and Moet &
Chandon, amongst others.

Djokovic, meanwhile, receives around $22 million a year through
sponsorship. His biggest partnership is with Lacoste, according to Forbes.