Wimbledon prize money: Serena Williams becomes third highest-earning player in tennis history after victory over Angelique Kerber
Serena Williams became the third highest-earning tennis player in history after defeating Angelique Kerber in straight sets on centre court.
The American's 7-5 6-3 victory secured a seventh Wimbledon singles crown and brought her level with Steffi Graf on a record 22.
It also won her a pay cheque worth £2m, which represents the biggest prize of her career to date and takes her above Rafael Nadal in the tennis rich list with total earnings to $80.2m.
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Only Roger Federer on $98.7m and Novak Djokovic on $101.9m have made more on the court.
Most successful women in the Open Era
| Rank | Name | Aus Open | French Open | Wimbledon | US Open | Total grand slam titles |
| 1 | Steffi Graf | 4 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 22 |
| 1 | Serena Williams | 6 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 22 |
| 3 | Chris Evert | 2 | 7 | 3 | 6 |
18 |
| 3 | Martina Navratilova | 3 | 2 | 9 | 4 | 18 |
| 5 | Margaret Court | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 11 |
| 6 | Monica Seles | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| 7 | Billie Jean King | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 |
| 8 | E. Goolagong Cawley | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 8 | Justine Henin | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| 8 | Venus Williams | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
The next highest-earning player in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) is the currently suspended Maria Sharapova who has made $36.5m, making her seventh in the all time prize money list behind Pete Sampras on $43.3m.
This year's winner's prize was Wimbledon's biggest yet with the All England Club paying out £120,000 more than what Williams received for winning a sixth title last year.
Yet it is the US Open which narrowly takes the mantle as the richest grand slam in tennis, paying last year's US Open winners — Djokovic and Flavia Pennetta — the equivalent of £2.1m each.
