Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka ends 2012 with highest prize purse

New Delhi: World No.1 tennis player Novak Djokovic ended the year with the highest prize money earned on the ATP World Tour this season. The Serb in total bagged $12,803,737 while World No.2 and London Olympics men's singles silver medallist Roger Federer of Switzerland earned $8,584,842.

London Olympics gold medallist Andy Murray of Britain was third in the list with a total purse of $5,708,230 while 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medallist Rafael Nadal, who is out of action due to injury, ended with $4,997,448. The top four won a Grand Slam each in 2012. India's Leaner Paes is 33rd in the list with earnings of $762495.

World No.1 women's tennis player Victoria Azarenka ended with the highest prize purse of $7,923,920 in the calendar year. The Belarusian won her first and only Grand Slam till date at the Australian Open in the beginning of the season and also ended the year as World No.1. World No.3 Serena Williams is second in the list of highest prize money winners with $7,045,975 but this year the American completed a Career Golden Slam in singles, thus becoming only the second woman to do so after Steffi Graf, Xinhua reports.

World No.1 Novak Djokovic ended the year with the highest prize money earned on the ATP World Tour this season.

She is also the first tennis player, male or female, to hold a Career Golden Slam in singles and doubles. To add to that, Serena also won the last two Grand Slams of the year, Wimbledon and US Open, to extend her tally to 15 major wins. Russian Maria Sharapova, World No.2, who completed a Career Grand Slam by winning the Roland Garros in June was third with $6,508,296. Sharapova also won the silver medal at the Olympics this year.

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