The ATP’s biggest individual prize money seasons as Jannik Sinner surges past Andy Murray: Novak Djokovic at No 1

Only five men have managed to earn more than $15m during a single season on the ATP Tour and Novak Djokovic has managed to achieve the feat three times in his career.

Jannik Sinner is the newest entry on the list following his staggering prize-money earnings during the 2024 season yet his total is still more than $4m lower than Djokovic’s best-ever season.

Djokovic, of course, also leads the all-time prize money list as he is the only player to earn more than $150m during his career as he currently sits on $185,065,269.

The 8 times players broke the $15m prize-money mark during a season:

8. Carlos Alcaraz – 2023

Carlos Alcaraz won two Grand Slams during the 2024 season and only one last year, but he earned more in 2023 ($9,036,407 v $15,196,504).

The Spaniard won his biggest at Wimbledon last year when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the final while he also reached the semi-finals at the French Open, US Open and ATP Finals.

Away from the big five events, Alcaraz also won the Indian Wells Masters and Madrid Open and finished runner-up at the Cincinnati Open all contributing to his $15,196,504 package.

7. Rafael Nadal – 2017

The great Rafael Nadal will bow out of tennis with career earnings of $134,946,100 and $15,864,000 of that total came during the 2017 campaign.

Nadal won the French Open and US Open that year and also finished runner-up at the Australian Open. He reached 10 finals in 2017, winning six titles as he finished the year at No 1.

Statistically, it was not his best season as he won 11 trophies in the 2011 campaign ($7,668,217) and 10 trophies in 2013 ($14,570,937).

6. Novak Djokovic – 2023

Novak Djokovic reached the final of the five biggest events on the tennis calendar in 2023 as he won the Australian Open, French Open, US Open and ATP Finals, and finished runner-up at Wimbledon.

His biggest payday came at the ATP Finals when he won $4.41 million for his efforts, but that was still below the $4,740,300 he collected for his efforts at the 2022 season-ending tournament.

Djokovic also collected big cheques at the Cincinnati Open and Paris Masters.

5. Novak Djokovic – 2018

In 2018, Djokovic came up just short of becoming the first man to break the $16m mark twice in a career as he earned $15,967,184.

The Serbian won Wimbledon and the US Open, finished runner-up to Alexander Zverev at the ATP Finals and also lifted two ATP Masters 1000 trophies.

Not bad after he finished the 2017 season without a Grand Slam and “only” $2,116,524 in earnings.

4. Rafael Nadal – 2019

Rafael Nadal’s biggest earnings season came in 2019 when he collected $16,349,586.

After finishing runner-up to Djokovic at the Australian Open, the Spaniard went on to win the French Open and the US Open while he also lifted trophies at the Italian Open and Canadian Open.

This was the last season before Covid-19 drastically reduced prize money at most tournaments.

3. Andy Murray – 2016

Andy Murray enjoyed one of the most remarkable endings to a season as he won the China Open, Shanghai Masters, Vienna Open, Paris Masters and ATP Finals. His title run in Paris helped him to reach No 1 for the first time while his ATP Finals title saw him clinch the year-end No 1 ranking.

The tennis great also won the Italian Open, Queen’s Club Championship and Wimbledon that year while he claimed gold at the Rio Games.

When all was said and done, he added $16,349,701 (nearly double of his previous best of $8,175,231) to his bank account to slot in at No 2 for the best-ever earnings season.

2. Jannik Sinner – 2024

Jannik Sinner has bumped Murray down to No 3 following his incredible 2024 season.

The Italian started the year with three titles as he lifted the Australian Open, Rotterdam Open and Miami Open while he also won the Halle Open on grass.

But it was his end-of-year surge that took him to $16,946,149.

Sinner won the US Open, Cincinnati Open, Shanghai Masters and ATP Finals with his $4,881,100 from the ATP Finals the biggest prize cheque in tennis history.

1. Novak Djokovic – 2015

Novak Djokovic’s $21,146,145 from the 2015 season will be tough to beat.

The tennis great reached all four Grand Slam finals that year as he won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open while missing out on the French Open crown as he was beaten by Stan Wawrinka.

He also lifted the ATP Finals crown and won the Indian Wells Open, Miami Open, Monte Carlo Masters, Italian Open, Shanghai Masters and Paris Masters.