Carlos Alcaraz dethrones Novak Djokovic as the highest-paid tennis star

Carlos Alcaraz, the young tennis phenom, has eclipsed Novak Djokovic to become the world's highest-paid tennis player, with an estimated $45 million in earnings over the past year. 

This shift comes after Alcaraz secured his third Grand Slam title at the French Open and accumulated substantial income through endorsements and appearance fees. 

His lucrative deals include partnerships with high-profile brands such as Nike, which alone brings him over $10 million annually.

On the other hand, Djokovic, despite his 24 Grand Slam titles and significant prize money, has earned $38.7 million, trailing behind Alcaraz due to fewer tournament wins this year. 

Other top earners in the sport include Jannik Sinner, Coco Gauff, and Iga Świątek, with Gauff recently becoming the highest-paid female athlete due to endorsements with L'Oreal and Naked, among others.

The tennis financial hierarchy now sees these young stars not only excelling on the court but also dominating the sport's economic game, with their earnings primarily driven by robust sponsorship deals and substantial appearance fees.