It’s not just football that’s
awash with sponsorship deals and rocketing
salaries – the refined sport of
tennis has gently been catching up.
Join us as MSN Money takes a look at
our favourite top ten tennis earners
Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg (in
the Centre) and Stefan Edberg
pose for a photo.
1- Bjorn Borg
The Swedish ‘ice borg’
will probably most likely to go down
in history as the unlucky inspiration
for fiery John McEnroe’s temper
culminating in the infamous ‘you
cannot be serious’ show down.
Despite this, the steely Swede managed
to walk off with prize money totalling
$3,609,896. And he even managed to find
time to engineer his own clothing line
which was de rigeur for about ten seconds
in the 80s.
John McEnroe and Donna Dixon
2- John McEnroe
The temperamental New Yorker is perhaps
better known for his extraordinary (and
often very entertaining) pitch outbursts
than for his tennis. This is a shame
because he was hugely gifted winning
the US Title aged just 20. Maybe the
prize money over his 15 year career
consoles him – it weighs up as
a hefty $12,539,827. And that's not
all - since 1993 he has proved himself
to be a respected television commentator.
Serena Williams
3- Serena Williams
One half of the gifted Williams sisters,
Serena’s success has been partly
down to the encouragement (or domineering)
of her father. Serena’s success
enabled the Williams family to escape
violent Compton for Palm Beach Gardens
but the money that secures this luxury
was largely due to a clothing sponsorship
deal rather than her talent. And it
is her $12 million deal with Puma that
threatens to divert attention from her
game today.
Anna Kournikova
4- Anna Kournikova
If Serena Williams is the princess
of lucrative sponsorship deals on the
centre court then Anna Kournikova is
the queen. Arguably, the young Russian
is more well-known for her looks and
celeb lifestyle than for her prowess
on pitch but this hasn’t stopped
her from raking it in to the tune of
an estimated £8.5 million in prize
money and sponsorship.
Andre Agassi
5- Andre Agassi
Cuddly Andre Agassi reinvented himself
from young punk to gracious elder statesman
of tennis smooth enough to (temporarily)
win the arm of Brooke Shields. Agassi
has earned over $25 million throughout
his career, second only to Pete Sampras.
In addition to this, Agassi also earns
over $25 million a year through endorsements,
the most by a tennis player and fourth
in all sports.
Pete Sampras
6- Pete Sampras
The son of Greek immigrants won at
least one title for 11 straight years
and has seen Ivan Lendl, John McEnroe
and Andre Agassi crying off the courts.
Despite his overwhelming success Sampras
has often been criticised for his lack
of charisma although we’re sure
$43 million in career prize money must
act as some comfort.
Fred Perry
7- Fred Perry
OK, he’s dead but we had to
get a Brit in here somewhere. And the
legendary champion paved the way for
later sports branding by lending his
name to the infamous polo shirts that
became the uniform of mods – and
latterly and more controversially –
skinheads.
Director Richard Loncraine, Wimbledon
champion and tennis consultant
Pat Cash, and Kirsten Dunst on
the set of Universal Pictures'
Wimbledon – 2004
8- Pat Cash
The mullet haired Australian won a
total of 7 singles and 12 doubles titles
during his career and now supplements
his income by singing with INXS, jamming
at events and working as a television
commentator.
Boris Becker
9- Boris Becker
The power serves and stealthy determination
of the dedicated German paid dividends.
The golden boy of tennis finished his
career with 49 singles titles and 15
doubles titles. In total, Becker's career
prize earnings added up to $25,080,956.
Billie Jean King
10- Billie Jean King
The legendary King was first female
athlete to win over $100,000 prize money
in a single season. And if that wasn’t
enough Billie Jean King campaigned on
behalf of women and their right to earn
comparable money in tennis and other
sports with her lobbying and dedication
shattering many barriers.
