Will There Be Another Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova in Tennis? WTA Stars’ Concerning Earnings Paint Really Dark Picture

In the world of sports, there’s only one problem that women athletes often face, getting the same money and recognition as men. But, when it comes to tennis, there used to be a time when women like Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova not only ruled the court but also made a lot of money. However, with them retiring, there’s a lot of gap that has already been created.

In the recently released list of the top 100 highest-paid athletes, there was no female athlete. But back then, the presence of Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams used to be a constant thing. This brings us to a question: will the world witness another star athlete like Sharapova and Williams? While the tennis world also saw the rise of tennis sensation Coco Gauff as she became the highest-paid athlete in women’s tennis, how far is she when it comes to the list of the stars?

A look at how players like Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova dominated the global charts in terms of earnings

For a long time, female athletes faced challenges in getting the recognition and money they deserve in sports. But in tennis, a few women managed to overcome these challenges and become the top earners in the sport. But, since 2010, only a few women have made it to the list of highest-paid athletes, and tennis was the stage where they shone the brightest.

Names like Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, and Naomi Osaka dominated women’s tennis and the earnings game. It’s been a long time since Sharapova retired from the sport and left her legacy for the upcoming gems to follow. Williams, a powerhouse, retired back in 2022, marking the end of an era. Osaka, also one of the stars of the game had earnings of $55 million at the time.

But the sad reality is clear when you look at the latest rankings of the world’s highest-paid athletes. Not even a single woman is in the top 100. This absence persists even when you expand the view to the top 200 earners. Coco Gauff, a rising star at 19, was the highest-paid female athlete in 2023 with $22.7 million.

But that’s way less than the $32.5 million needed to be in the top 100. Cristiano Ronaldo, at the age of 39 stood tall at the first spot with a total earning of $275 million. That’s even more than 10 times what highest paid tennis star Coco Gauff earns.

Despite being the only sport where men and women are getting equal pay, there are multiple challenges that the WTA stars will be facing to make their way into the top 100 of the list of highest-paid athletes.

What are the problems surrounding players like Coco Gauff and co.?

There are multiple challenges that they might face. For female athletes like Coco Gauff the top 100 cutoff keeps going up. Media contracts are boosting salaries in male-dominated sports like the NFL, NBA, and MLB. It is eventually pushing the cutoff from $16 million which was a decade ago to the current $32.5 million. This makes it harder for women to break into the exclusive top 100 earners club.

Also read: After Rumored Collaboration with Coco Gauff, Serena Williams’ Childhood Coach Reveals the Youngster’s Biggest Negative (EXCLUSIVE)

On top of that, the recent influx of money into men’s golf makes it even more challenging for elite female athletes. The growing gap between male and female earnings in sports is clear, making it less likely for top female tennis players to earn as much as their male counterparts.

So, is there any way for these top athletes to make their way to the top of the list of the highest-paid athletes in the sport?

How can things change and women like Coco Gauff and others make their way into the top 100 of the highest-paid earners just like Serena Williams?

In this era of rising financial standards, achieving the same financial success as Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova seems tough for today’s players. The big question now is: Will we see more tennis stars like Serena and Sharapova, or is this the end of an era where women were at the top of the financial game in sports? For this to happen, there will be a need for more investors to invest in the sport. Not only this, with more brands coming in, the players will get a chance to get worldwide recognition.

The gap has widened a lot and it’s important to face the reality that the struggle for equal pay in sports is far from over. The legacy of tennis legends like Williams and Sharapova should be an inspiration for change. The sports industry, sponsors, and fans need to work together to create a fair environment where female athletes are not just participants but financial equals. This ensures that the next generation doesn’t lose sight of the golden era that once lit up the tennis world.

What are your views on this? Do you think that the women will be able to achieve the same feat that the likes of Sharapova and Williams once got? Please let us know in the comments below!

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