From Venus and Serena to 2024: The Decline of Top Black Earners In Tennis as Naomi Osaka Makes Comeback and Coco Gauff Defends Title at U.S. Open

As the 2024 U.S. Open unfolds, tennis fans will notice how the landscape for Black players has shifted dramatically since the days of Venus and Serena Williams. Once the dominant figures in the sport, the Williams sisters’ era now seems a distant memory as current Black players struggle to reach the same heights. (L-R) Naomi Osaka, 2024 US Open, Image via Nice Kicks, https://x.com/nicekicks/status/1828521153973080206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1828521153973080206%7Ctwgr%5E98ce40d4b00e95015d7a93d0b8723b7a1fbd3d59%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.puntodebreak.com%2Fen%2F2024%2F08%2F28%2Fnaomi-osakas-outfit-the-most-talked-about-in-new-york/ Coco Gauff (Photo: U.S. Open official website, https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2023-09-09/coco_gauff_rallies_past_aryna_sabalenka_to_win_2023_us_open_womens_title.html) Serena Williams, who retired in 2022, left behind a legacy of nearly $95 million in prize money, according to Forbes. Her sister Venus, a five-time Wimbledon champion, has also amassed over $42 million in career earnings. Their dominance on the court set a high bar for Black athletes in tennis, but as of now, no Black players are among the top earners. Today’s Tennis Stars In the 2024 US Open, running from Aug. 19 to Sept. 9, Coco Gauff–the defending US Open champion and No. 3 in the world–is making headline with her latest win. Overcoming a slow start, she defeated Germany’s Tatiana Maria 6-4, 6-0 in the second round of the US Open on Aug. 28. Despite her victory, Gauff, 20, struggled with her serve, committing seven...