Listing the highest-earning tennis players of 2026: Sinner outside the top 3

Jannik Sinner's prize money after the first month of the new year is only slightly higher than... Hubert Hurkacz by $8,000.

After the Australian tournament series concluded, the 2026 ATP season officially entered its next phase, bringing notable changes in the prize money rankings. The latest update shows Carlos Alcaraz surging ahead dominantly after winning the Australian Open, confirming his number 1 status - not only in terms of skill but also earnings.

The Spanish player has earned over $2.77 million in just one month of competition, despite only participating in a single tournament in 2026. That amount is more than enough for Alcaraz to leave the rest far behind, creating a significant gap with his pursuers. His success in Melbourne further strengthens his image as the biggest star in men's tennis today.

Right behind Alcaraz is Novak Djokovic. Although surprising many by returning to the Australian Open final, the Serbian player earned about $1.43 million - just over half of what the champion took home. Both Djokovic and Alcaraz have competed in only one tournament since the start of the year, but the Grand Slam's weight helped them dominate the top two spots in the prize money rankings.

In third place is Alexander Zverev. The German player reached the Australian Open semifinals and gained additional income from the United Cup, surpassing $1 million in prize money for 2026. With consistent performance, Sascha continues to hold a position among players who are both highly accomplished and highly paid, approaching the $60 million career prize money mark.

Fourth place belongs to Alex de Minaur. The Australian star earned nearly $900,000 thanks to his run to the quarterfinals of the home Grand Slam and his positive showing at the United Cup. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner - the world No. 2 - is ranked fifth with over $830,000. Being eliminated by Djokovic in the 2026 Australian Open semifinals ended Sinner's 19-match winning streak there and significantly impacted his early-year earnings rank.

The following spots feature Hubert Hurkacz, Taylor Fritz, Jakub Mensik, Lorenzo Musetti, and Ben Shelton. Notably, Hurkacz, despite an early exit at the Australian Open, benefited greatly from winning the United Cup, while Mensik had a strong start with a title in Auckland before withdrawing in the fourth round of the "Happy Slam" due to injury.