Novak Djokovic has pipped Iga Swiatek to the title of tennis’ highest earner for 2022. Despite his interrupted campaign, Djokovic was still able to win five titles, including a Masters 1000 trophy, Wimbledon and the ATP Finals.
After capturing a record-equalling sixth season-ending championship this past weekend, the Serbian picked up a record £4,004,226 ($4,740,300) prize money cheque for winning the trophy without losing a match. Swiatek had been bidding to make history as the first woman in 20 years to top the list of tennis earnings in a single season but ended up falling just £49,887 ($59,057) short.
In total, Djokovic won £8.39m ($9.93m) this year, with almost half of it coming from his ATP Finals win. En-route to becoming the oldest champion in the event’s history, Djokovic won a record amount of prize money on offer in Turin.
The fee surpassed Ash Barty’s £3.73m ($4.42m) from winning the 2019 WTA Finals with a 4-1 record for the week. Swiatek on the other hand, won eight of the 17 tournaments she played, including two grand slams.
She took home £8.34m ($9.88m) and was set to end the year as the season’s highest earner but was overtaken by Djokovic at the eleventh hour. After defeating Casper Ruud to win the ATP Finals for the first time since 2015, Djokovic said it felt even bigger after what has been a tumultuous 2022.
"Of course, very satisfying and pleasing considering the journey this year that started really badly in Australia with all the things happening," Djokovic told Eurosport. "So this victory is even bigger as I said, considering the circumstances that my team, my family and I have been through, but I felt I was not alone.
“I felt big support from my people, from Serbia, from the region. It was just a matter of time before I would find that balance and optimal strength in my game in order to really peak and start playing the best tennis I possibly can. Midway through the season that started to happen and I won Wimbledon and after Wimbledon I think I lost one match only." Having sealed the success with one of nine aces in the match, he said the seven-year wait for the title made the triumph "even sweeter".
"It feels deeply satisfying and, at the same time, a huge relief because of the circumstances that I have been through this year, situations earlier this year, of course, with Australia," added Djokovic.
"That had an effect obviously on my start of the year. For the first several months, I was trying to find that balance game-wise but also mentally in order to be able to come back to the court and find that tennis level that I need. I don't know what the future holds but I know that what I hold in my mind is a huge hunger still to win trophies."
