LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 02: Serena Williams poses with her new book 'Queen of the Court' during a book signing at Harrods department store on November 2, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)
Photograph by: Ian Gavan
Credit: Getty Images

Billie Jean King first to pass the six-figure mark in a season

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The 11-times grand slam champion and world No1 now has career earnings approaching $30-million.

"It's incredible how much women's tennis has grown in the last few years and that the tour has increased our prize money so significantly," Williams said.

"We are very fortunate to have an opportunity to be so well rewarded for doing something we love."

This season Williams eclipsed the previous record of $5 429 586 set by Belgian Justine Henin in 2007.

Earlier this year, Williams also surpassed Lindsay Davenport as record holder in career prize money earnings on the tour.

The 28-year-old American won the 2009 season-ending championship as well as Australian Open and Wimbledon crowns during the season.

In 1971, total prize money for 19 events on the women's tennis tour was $309100.

By 2009, it had grown to more than $86-million at the tour's 55 events (including the four grand slam tournaments, which are not run by the WTA).

Billie Jean King became the first woman tennis player to pass the six-figure mark in single season earnings in 1971. In 2008, 143 women earned more than $100 000 during the season.

Chris Evert became the first woman player to pass $1-million in career earnings at the Colgate Champs in Palm Springs in 1976. Ten years later Martina Navratilova became the first woman to pass $10-million in career earnings at the US indoors.

By winning the 1982 Wimbledon title, Navratilova became the all-time prize money leader in tennis, overtaking both Evert and Jimmy Connors, a mantle she held until 1989.

Later that year, she became the first woman player to pass $1-million in a single season, finishing with $1475055 .

In 1984 Navratilova surpassed the $2-million mark in season earnings; in 1997 Martina Hingis passed the $3-million mark; in 2003 Kim Clijsters passed the $4-million plateau and in 2007 Henin became the first woman in sport to pass $5-million in single season earnings.

On three occasions, a woman has been the top earner (men or women) in tennis: 1984 Martina Navratilova, 1991 Monica Seles and 2003 Kim Clijsters.

By winning the singles and doubles at the 2009 Australian Open, Serena Williams became the first professional woman athlete to pass the $23-million mark in a single professional sports league.