Over the decades, tennis players have earned enormous fame and recognition from all over the world by millions of tennis aficionados for their unmatched exploits on the court and their extremely successful ventures outside the tennis court. From Roger Federer to Serena Williams, numerous legendary tennis players have started off with their own brands and ventures that have turned out to be extremely successful for these tennis stalwarts.
Well, beyond money, creating their own brands is more about creating an impact and leaving behind a legacy that continues to live among their millions of fans ever after they choose to announce their retirement from the game. Have you ever wondered about the top four tennis players who have managed to build successful brands outside the court? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four tennis players who have built successful brands.
Top 4 Tennis Players Who Built Successful Brands Outside the Court
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Roger Federer
The legendary Swiss former professional tennis player Roger Federer is at the first spot on our list of the top four tennis players who have managed to build powerful brands beyond the court. Often hailed as one of the most successful professorial tennis players of all-time, Roger Federer launched his brand “On Running” and launched a sneaker “The Roger” in July 2020.
Although “On Running” specialises in high-performance athletic footwear and apparel, the brand has also started focusing on creating tennis-inspired sneakers under Roger Federer’s guidance. According to reports, Roger Federer’s brand “On Running” earns an annual revenue of around $1.1 billion as of 2025, making it one of the most successful brands ever launched by a tennis player.
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Serena Williams
At the second spot in our list of the top four tennis players who have built successful brands, we have the legendary American professional tennis player Serena Williams, who was ranked as the world No. 1 in women’s singles by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for 319 weeks, speaking volumes about her dominance on the court.
In addition to dominating her opponents on the court, Seren Williams has also successfully established herself as one of the most influential entrepreneurs of all-time. Serena Williams officially launched Serena Ventures (venture capital firm) in 2014 and S by Serena (fashion line) in 2018. According to reports, the combined valuation of the companies exceeds $14 billion as of 2025, speaking volumes about her unwavering dominance in the world of entrepreneurship.
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Maria Sharapova
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four tennis players who have managed to build powerful brands beyond the court, we have the Russian former professional tennis player Maria Sharapova, who was ranked as the world No. 1 in women’s singles by the Women’s Tennis Association(WTA) for 21 weeks. In addition to being one of the most successful professional female tennis players in the world, Maria Sharapova has also established herself as one of the most influential entrepreneurs with her premium confectionery brand Sugarpova.
Maria Sharapova launched her brand ‘Sugarpova’ in August 2012 and offers healthy candies, gummies, truffles and chocolates to the consumers. As of 2025, Maria Sharapova’s brand is valued at around US$187 million, making her one of the most successful entrepreneurs.
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Rafael Nadal
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four tennis players who have built successful brands, we have the Spanish former tennis sensation Rafael Nadal, who was ranked as the world No. 1 in men’s singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals(ATP) for 209 weeks. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional tennis players in the world, Rafael Nadal has gone beyond the court and also established himself as one of the leading entrepreneurs with his ‘Rafa Nadal Academy’ which was launched in 2016 in his hometown, Manacor, Mallorca, Spain.
The ‘Rafa Nadal Academy’ offers professional-level coaching for juniors, amateurs, and aspiring tennis players and earns through academy fees, camps and highly lucrative international expansions.
