How Did Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu Rake In Nearly $31 Million Despite Their Form Struggles on WTA Tour?

The tennis court isn’t just where stars shine—it’s where fortunes are made. Beyond the squeak of shoes and the thwack of racquets, the sport offers players opportunities to rake in millions, not just in prize money but through jaw-dropping brand deals. And now, fresh data on WTA players’ earnings has surfaced, and it’s got everyone buzzing. The spotlight? Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu. While they’ve both dazzled on the court, their financial successes tell a story that’s just as fascinating.

In a data released by Sportico, the WTA stars have ensured their dominance on the financial front as well. Of the top 10 Highest-paid female athletes of 2024, 6 are tennis players with Coco Gauff leading the list. She is also joined by Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Qinwen Zheng. But two names make an interesting presence on the list and they are none other than Osaka and Raducanu, who are ranked 6th and 7th. The ranking is interesting given the not-so-happening season that both players enjoyed this year. 

The Japanese star played 40 matches across the circuit and won only 22 of those. Besides, she witnessed early exits and major setbacks, and her performance at the Grand Slams was not out of the box either. In fact, at the US Open, she was ousted in the second round itself failing to prove her dominance. Osaka’s best performance of the year came at the Doha and Libema Open, where she managed to advance to the quarterfinals. The season for Raducanu was not very different either. 

The British star witnessed multiple challenges owing to injuries and could play only 34 matches, winning 21 of them. Her best performance came at the Nottingham Open where she managed to play in the semifinals. However, the earnings of both players reveal a different picture. So what is the source behind their incredible earnings?

The earnings of both Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka stem largely from lucrative brand deals with major companies from across the globe. Osaka, who amassed $15.9 Million throughout the year, has a majority of her fortune coming from brands like Nike, Louis Vuitton, Mastercard, and Panasonic, which make $15 Million of her total earnings, as against only $870K from prize money. For the unversed, the Japanese star signed a lucrative multi-year deal with Nike that would offer her $10 Million annually till 2025. While exact monetary details about her other brand deals are not known, she is expected to amass close to $4-$5 Million from these. Besides, she also joined Zico Coconut Water as an investor and brand ambassador this year. Raducanu, on the other hand, has equally championed the business of tennis.

The Brit has secured a $14.7 Million fortune this year of which only $671K comes from prize money, and her deals with brands like Dior, Tiffany & Co., and Porsche account for the rest. While exact details about her deal with Porsche are not known, she is estimated to earn around $2.1 Million each from Dior and Tiffany & Co., which signed deals with her after her US Open victory in 2021. Besides, she earns close to $1.05 Million as part of her deal with British Airways and $3.15 Million from Vodafone, per The Sun. Hence, the influence remains strong despite challenges in recent performance, reflecting their star power and commercial success. And when it comes to Raducanu, the star player has highlighted how she values money and spends it very thoughtfully. 

When Emma Raducanu revealed the factor behind wise spending

Emma Raducanu has often surprised fans with her decisions related to commerce. Ahead of the Qatar Open this year, the British sensation traveled to Doha via Dubai to attend the opening of the One&Only One Za’abeel hotel. While it is uncommon for players to attend any commercial event ahead of their matches, the Brit turned out to be an exception. And when asked if she plans to reduce off-court events, she told The Times: “Not at all actually.” Continuing further, she said, “It’s basically like training in Dubai and then having a nice dinner with a lot of people. The only difference is my dinners go public.” However, while Raducanu might be serious about earning more money, her spending is quite controlled. 

In an interview with the same publication last year, Raducanu shared how her upbringing helped her spend her wealth wisely. “I wouldn’t say I’m a lavish spender,” she said. Continuing further, she explained. “My parents really taught me about the value of money and not to spend or splurge, and that’s become really useful for me growing up.”

Now, both Osaka and Raducanu will aim to come back stronger the next season. The main would probably be not to just earn money, but also titles and dominate the courts yet again.