Perhaps the most iconic Tennis figure in history, Roger Federer has been a constant presence in the athletes' top-earners list. And, when it comes down to sponsorship, the recently ended season had Federer at the epicenter of a huge change.
The 37-year-old ended a decades-lasting deal with the giant sports manufacturer Nike as the Japanese brand Uniqlo stepped in by offering Federer a surreal deal. Having previously worked with Novak Djokovic, Uniqlo looked for another prominent tennis figure and Roger Federer was a perfect fit. As it turned out, Roger Federer and Uniqlo partnered for a $300 million deal over a ten-year span.
Prize money and other endorsements
The deal with Uniqlo might be the central point of Roger Federer's cash influx, but it's just one of the many still in place.
Regarding the prize money accrued from actually playing tennis, according to the ATP official profile, Federer grossed more than $8.6 million in 2018 which puts him in the third position among the men's tennis players. Novak Djokovic leads by a huge margin as the Serb superstar grossed almost $16 million from prizes only in 2018. Rafael Nadal comes in second place with approximately $8.66 million.
But the cash flow is not entirely determined by those numbers, as Roger Federer earns big by promoting the image of other global brands from different fields of activity.
He is one of the long-time partners for the globally recognized watch manufacturer Rolex. The German car maker Mercedes, the pasta giant Barilla, the tennis rackets producer Wilson, Credit Suisse bank, coffee maker Jura, Moet & Chandon are also part of a huge endorsement portfolio that makes Roger Federer one of the most marketable athletes in history.
Forbes places Federer high the top-earners list
The prestigious Forbes magazine cited Roger Federer as the seventh highest-paid athlete. The estimations credit Federer for making more than $70 million per year.
But the numbers are subject to variation as the sponsorship deals and the prize money may vary from one season to another.
But, for a 37-year-old, Roger Federer seems to be making a respectable amount of money.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner is set to play again in 2019 and his first big test will be at the 2019 Australian Open where he'll try to defend his title. Currently ranked third in the world, Roger Federer remains a wonder of sports and an athlete that seems to defy the nature's laws.
Recently, he has celebrated a mind-blowing 1000 consecutive weeks inside the ATP top 100.
