Alcaraz was docked three million dollars in prize money for violating policies, missing the chance to break Djokovic’s 2015 record.

The ATP’s prize structure for consistent participation in Masters 1000 and 500 tournaments has grown comparable to Grand Slam payouts. While Alcaraz hit a landmark sum on the prize list, his historical season earnings remain second to Djokovic because of ATP policy violations.

According to an ATP report, Alcaraz earned $21,354,778 in prize money during 2025, topping all male players and highlighting his dominant form this season.

However, despite this substantial total, Alcaraz did not surpass Djokovic’s single-season prize record, which stood at $21,146,145 in 2015 (not adjusted for inflation). The reason he fell short is due to reductions applied under ATP tour rules.

Under ATP prize money regulations, players can earn additional bonuses based on points earned at Masters 1000 events and the ATP Finals. This system rewards consistent participation but penalizes players who miss tournaments.

For each missed Masters 1000 event, a player’s prize money is cut by 25%; this applies even if the absence is due to injury or withdrawal. This rule significantly affected Alcaraz’s final earnings.

Originally, Alcaraz was eligible for a $4.8 million bonus for leading in points, but he missed two Masters 1000 tournaments—the Canadian Open and Shanghai Masters—resulting in a $3 million deduction. This cut lowered his season total to $18.8 million. Had he played more Masters events, his total earnings could have been much higher. Meanwhile, Musetti emerged as the biggest winner in Masters prize money.

Despite a crucial gap in his season, Sinner’s earnings closely followed. Thanks to strong Grand Slam results and winning the ATP Finals, he earned $19,120,641, a figure that excludes any ATP bonuses. Djokovic also lost prize money due to missed events.

Among the ATP top 30 players, only two others besides Sinner earned no prize money from Masters or ATP 500 events: Djokovic and Draper. As Djokovic ages, meeting ATP participation requirements becomes increasingly challenging for him.

Draper’s situation differs; recent injuries have stalled his momentum and pushed him out of the spotlight, despite a solid start to the season and decent point accumulation. The biggest prize money earner is Musetti, who did not miss any major tournaments all year, with his consistent Masters performances being crucial.

Musetti excelled particularly during the clay season, finishing runner-up in Monte Carlo and reaching the semifinals in Madrid and Rome. These achievements helped him accumulate the highest Masters prize money total. He ended the year fifth overall with $6,345,640 in earnings, ahead of many well-known players, rewarded richly for his steady performances across events.

Zverev ranked third in total earnings this season, finishing with $7,468,230. Only Sinner and Alcaraz surpassed eight figures, clearly placing them in a higher financial tier.

Additionally, some notable trends emerged. Davidovich ranked fourth on the ATP 500 prize list and 14th in total earnings; Djokovic dropped to ninth on the prize leaderboard with further declines possible; and Deminar secured a top-four spot by maximizing participation in top-level events. As the new season approaches, the battle between Alcaraz and Sinner for the “prize money king” title remains highly competitive.(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)