Federer highest-paid athlete in tennis with 71.5 mln dollars earnings in 2013

Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer is reportedly the highest paid athlete in the game, with estimated earnings of 71.5 million dollars in 2013.

According to News.com.au, the list of the world's richest players in descending order includes Federer, Maria Sharapova, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Li Na, Victoria Azarenka, Andy Murray, Caroline Wozniacki and Kei Nishikori.

The report mentioned that the combination of good looks and talent led the 17-time Major winner to rake in more than 71 million dollars last year, although it is estimated that he is worth closer to 180 million dollars all up, having netted nearly 80 million dollars in prize money over the course of his career.

Russian-born Sharapova's reputation as the glamour girl of tennis has raked in 29 million dollars last year and she has scooped nearly 27 million dollars in prize money over her career, while Djokovic is turning himself into one of the game's most bankable stars after going pro in 2003, with his total earnings in 2013 being 26.9 million dollars.

Djokovic has earned more than 58 million dollars in prize money over the years, while Nadal raked in 26.4 million dollars last year and nearly 65 million dollars over the course of his career with lucrative sponsorships.

17-time Grand Slam winner Williams comes next with her 2013 earnings of 20.5 million dollars, with career earnings of more than 54 million dollars, followed by Li, with total earnings of 18.2 million dollars and more than 13 million dollars in prize money over her career.

Azarenka is next with 15. 7 million dollars in 2013 and total prize money earnings of 23 million dollars over her career; Murray earned 14.9 million dollars in 2013 and has a prize money of 30 million dollars over his career; Wozniacki has 13.6 million dollars earnings in 2013 and prize money of 16 million dollars over career.

The last is Kei Nishikori with 10.5 million dollars in 2013 with 3.6 million dollars prize money over career, according to figures from Forbes and the Australian Open, the report added.