In 2025, Aryna Sabalenka was ranked 27th among the world’s best-selling athletes; a year later, she surpassed the world’s biggest sports stars and took No. 1 in 2026

Tennis – US Open – Flushing Meadows, New York, United States – September 12, 2026 Aryna Sabalenkova of Belarus looks dejected as she speaks to the crowd after losing her women’s singles final match against Elena Rybakin of Kazakhstan REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz Aryna Sabalenka has established herself as one of the biggest names in women’s tennis over the past few seasons, but her latest accolade puts her commercial appeal ahead of some of the most respected athletes in world sport. The four-time Grand Slam champion was named the world’s best-selling athlete in 2026, climbing from 27th last year to take the top spot SportsPro Annual Rankingswho became the first female tennis player to achieve this award since Naomi Osaka in 2021.

Sabalenkova’s rise from 27th place to the top of the rankings

Aryna Sabalenkova is currently world number two in the WTA singles rankings, having recently been overtaken by Elena Rybakina to end her 99-week reign. Despite falling from the top spot, the 28-year-old Belarus capped a dominant run by finishing 2025 as the year-end world number one for the second consecutive season.Her influence goes beyond tournament results, as she finished ahead of all other athletes on SportsPro’s 17th annual list of the 50 best-selling sports personalities. The achievement makes her the fourth woman and the third tennis player to top the sales chart since its introduction in 2010.Its commercial portfolio includes partnerships with Nike, Wilson, Gucci, Emirates, Audemars Piguet, Whoop and Stella Artois, giving it presence across sportswear, luxury fashion, aviation and lifestyle brands. SportsPro estimates it has earned approximately $30 million in 2025 through prize money and off-court commercial activities.

How Sabalenka compares to Alcaraz, Zverev and other tennis stars

Sabalenková leads a strong tennis contingent, among the 50 athletes selected for this year’s ranking, she was joined by seven other players. Carlos Alcaraz is the highest-ranked male tennis player, finishing fifth overall, while Alexander Zverev is ranked eighth to complete the sport’s top 10 representation.The remaining tennis players include Iga Swiatek at 17th, Naomi Osaka at 21st, Coco Gauff at 32nd, Jannik Sinner at 35th and Novak Djokovic at 46th.The complete tennis representation in the 2026 rankings is:Overall rankingPlayer1Aryna Sabalenka5Carlos Alcaraz8Alexander Zverev17Iga Swiatek21Naomi Osaka32Coco Gauff35Jannik Sinner46Novak DjokovicAlcaraz is also among the top five overall, finishing behind Sabalenka, freestyle skier Eileen Gu, basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo and soccer player Erling Haaland. Eight places belong to tennis in the top fifty, which makes it one of the most represented sports in the annual selection.Women make up 16 places in this year’s ranking, compared to 20 in the previous edition and a peak of 23 in 2023.

What makes an athlete marketable according to SportsPro?

Powered by NorthStar Solutions Group, the SportsPro rankings don’t just reward athletes for winning championships or amassing large social media followings. Instead, its 100-point NorthStar marketability score assesses three different areas, examining an athlete’s established commercial reputation, current visibility and potential for future growth.The three scoring pillars are:

• Brand Equity – 45 points: It measures the strength and established value of an athlete’s personal brand.
• Momentum – 40 points: It examines their current visibility, relevance and attention around their sports profile.
• Business Trajectory – 15 points: It assesses their potential to attract further partnerships and grow commercially.

The methodology draws on 27 defined marketability drivers, supported by hundreds of data points for each athlete and over 3,000 brand partnership records. SportsPro considered an expanded pool of 1,202 athletes from 70 sports, with 247 receiving full ratings before the final 50 were selected.The evidence covered the period between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026, so the rankings are an assessment of commercial appeal within a defined 12-month window rather than a mere reflection of an athlete’s career achievements.

Four Grand Slam titles helped build Sabalenkova’s profile

Sabalenka’s commercial rise was accompanied by a remarkable period of success on the tennis court, with four major titles placing her among the defining players of her generation. She won her first Grand Slam at the 2023 Australian Open, successfully defended her title in 2024, and subsequently won back-to-back US Open championships in 2024 and 2025.

The victory marked the 14th Grand Slam semifinal in her career and the fourth in a row at the first major of the season for Aryn Sabalenkova.

Her journey through the majors also included heavy final defeats, notably against Coco Gauff at the 2023 US Open and 2025 French Open, along with a loss to Madison Keys in the 2025 Australian Open final.Those setbacks have been part of a career in which Sabalenka has consistently been involved in the biggest matches, while her outgoing personality and strong presence have helped her connect with audiences outside of tennis.Moving from 27th to the top of SportsPro’s rankings in one year represents a substantial commercial breakthrough, especially for a roster of athletes from 70 different sports. Sabalenka’s latest recognition reflects not only the success she has achieved on the court, but also the international profile she has built around it.