By reaching the singles and doubles finals at the 2009 Australian Open, world No.2 Serena Williams broke golf star Annika Sorenstam’s record for career prize money by a female athlete with nearly $23 million.
Even if Williams is to lose both championship matches, she would leave Australia with career earnings of about $22.7 million, overcoming Lindsay Davenport, who used to hold the record in women’s tennis, by more than $500,000, and Sorenstam’s total by more than $150,000.
Williams’ first check was worth $240, she earned it at an event in Canada in 1995:
It’s amazing how much women’s tennis has grown since I joined the tour 14 years ago.
If Williams wins two Australian Open championships this week, her career earnings will reach more than $23.5 million. In singles she’s looking for her 10th Grand Slam title in a clash with Dinara Safina, while in doubles, along with her sister Venus Williams, she faces Daniela Hantuchova and Ai Sugiyama.
And she’s earned a lot of that dough the hard way – through grit mixed with greatness.
Congrats ReRe!
It couldn’t have been easy!
Serena has made history and will continue to make history.congrats Serena!!
Yeah, she’s reached three consecutive Grand Slam finals, and has now even won the Australian Open doubles with Venus. Amazing.
What an achievement. She’s completed the Grand Slam in both singles and doubles and now she’s the highest paid female athlete of all time. What a brilliant player. Serena to win the Australian Open singles.
I think she’ll win the singles.
It’s great to see that women’s tennis is one sport where women get similar coverage to the men.
Hopefully Serena is not considering retirement any time soon, so that record will continue to grow.
i did not see all the matches that sirena played in 2009 but man she is really an outstanding player. my congrats go out not only to her but her sister venus as well. i would love for my daughter to meet these young women to be a mentor.
thank for letting me comment.
mr. jerry chatman
heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeey 🙂 i love serena williams she is my idol. i have been palying tennis since i was three and someday hope to be just liike her. i would love to meet her!!!I am doing so much tennis training lately and im in term 3 ( semester 2 ) of high school so im trying to balance homework and tennis and netball and volleyball but tennis will always come first in my life 🙂
xoxoxox i love serena williams