The highest-paid players on the men’s 2026 ATP tour are those widely considered the best: Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and the man who has won more Grand Slams than either of them; this year, he ranks only 9th on the list.

Carlos Alcaraz

Alcaraz has had a troubled year and openly discussed the difficulty of four months without competing due to a wrist injury. He returned at the US Open in September, but fell to Ben Shelton in a five-set epic. Despite his time out, Alcaraz is still ranked #3 in the world. He and Sinner had shared a remarkable nine straight Slams between them until the French Open this year, when Zverev won his first Slam. 

At the Australian Open in January, Alcaraz played an almost flawless two weeks, beating both Zverev and Novak Djokovic on his way to the title. The Spaniard has earned a reported $62.9 million in 2026 alone, with around two-thirds of that through endorsements. Alcaraz is one of Nike’s leading figures and has had partnerships with various other brands, including Calvin Klein and Evian.

Jannik Sinner

Sinner is next on the list with a reported $59 million in 2026 earnings. The Italian sits at the top of the ATP rankings and looks set to end another year as world #1. Sinner won the US Open, beating Zverev in the final, before having to miss the US Open through injury. Previously, Sinner won an incredible five straight Masters 1000 titles in a run that included six overall (dating back to 2025), twice breaking the all-time record.

Sinner’s attacking baseline game and extreme athleticism mean he is one of the most popular players, as well as one of the highest-paid. It has been suggested by Streamline that in emerging markets such as Kenya, where young fans follow tennis largely through online clips, Sinner’s highlights are particularly relevant. Despite his recent injury, Sinner is likely to be a favourite at any event he enters on his return to the tour. ATP odds are often available on platforms that also host iGaming titles, such as the best online casino in Kenya.

Alexander Zverev

Zverev beat Ben Shelton for the 2026 US Open men’s title, claiming his second Grand Slam of the season and leaving New York with another $5.5 million. That added to a total that is reportedly the 9th-highest in the world this year at $16.7 million (per Sportico’s “Highest-Paid Tennis Players”). 

Six years previously when playing for the same title, Zverev competed in a near-empty stadium in surreal pandemic circumstances. The German faced Dominic Thiem for what would be either’s first ever Grand Slam title. Zverev suffered heartbreak as he led 2-0 in sets and served for the championship at 5-3 in the third. Thiem pulled off a remarkable comeback, but Zverev’s belief wasn’t shaken: “I don’t think it’s my last chance”, he said at the time, predicting that he’d become a Slam champion at some point.  

Zverev’s successful 2026 has been called the worst Grand Slam season in recent history, in large part due to injuries to his main rivals, Sinner and Alcaraz, as well as off-court dramas involving influencers and debates around players’ share of revenue. 

It is not just the ATP that pays big – three women are in the top 5

Coco Gauff, Serena Williams, and Aryna Sabalenka are third, fourth, and fifth in earnings, according to Sportico. Williams only recently returned to professional tennis after stepping away from the sport (but not officially retiring) in 2022. Both Williams’ and Gauff’s earnings are overwhelmingly from off-court deals. However, Gauff has been successful in competition too: the American was #4 in the WTA rankings following the US Open.