The top 20 prize money earners on the ATP and WTA Tour have been revealed and the results are not what you might expect. 

This year has been a memorable year for tennis, with legends of the game calling time on their career and paving the way for rising stars to take centre stage. 

Indeed, future Hall of Famers Roger Federer and Serena Williams have both put down their racquets after almost three decades in the sport, while three-time major winner Ashleigh Barty also stepped away from the game. 

Barty’s retirement opened the door for Iga Swiatek, who duly took advantage of the Australian’s absence and solidified her position as the new women’s number one. 

Elsewhere, in men’s tennis, teenager Carlos Alcaraz proved he is the rightful heir to the ‘Big Three’ and claimed his first Grand Slam title at the US Open. 

VIDEO: Iga Swiatek beats Daria Kasatkina at the WTA Finals

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Which tennis player has earned the most in 2022? 

Right now, it’s Alcaraz and Swiatek who are leading the way in the men’s and women’s prize money standings. 

The Spaniard has accumulated $7,519,409 (£6.5m) in earnings so far, having won five tournaments in 2022. 

These include the Rio Open, Miami Open, Barcelona Open, Madrid Open and, of course, his win at Flushing Meadows. 

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are second and third on the list respectively. 

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates winning the third set tiebreak against Casper Ruud of Norway during their Men’s Singles Final match on Day Fourteen of the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 11, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Djokovic retained his Wimbledon title to capture his 21st major win, while Nadal won both the Australian Open and the French Open. 

As for Swiatek, the Polish star has earned $9,405,525 (£8.2m) this season — almost two million more than Alcaraz. 

This is especially remarkable given the disparity in prize money for men and women at tennis events. 

Though the Grand Slams are completely equal, the majority of tournaments still offer more to male players. 

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Swiatek has reached nine finals in total this year — winning eight of them. 

The Pole stormed to victory at Roland-Garros as well as the French Open and went on a 37-match winning streak. 

Ons Jabeur and Elena Rybakina make up the next two places on the list, with Americans Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff completing the top five. 

Barty is sixth on the list, despite retiring in March, having won the Australian Open at the start of the year. 

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 13: Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates after defeating Qinwen Zheng of China during Day 4 of the San Diego Open, part of the Hologic WTA Tour, at Barnes Tennis Center on October 13, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

How much could Swiatek earn in 2022? 

Swiatek may still pass the $10,000,000 threshold if she wins the WTA Finals this week. 

The tournament comprises the top eight players in the world this year and is considered one of the most prestigious events aside from the four majors. 

This season, the prize for winning the event is $1,240,000 (£1.08m), with the runner-up receiving $420,000 (£365,000). 

There is also a $110,000 (£96,000) bonus for every match won in the round-robin stage. 

You can find all the latest tennis news and rumours here. 

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