Federer passes Sampras - in career earnings

MADRID, Spain (AP)—Roger Federer became the ATP Tour’s career leader in prize money Thursday, topping $43.3 million to overtake Pete Sampras.

Federer, a 13-time Grand Slam champion, set the earnings total with his 6-4, 6-1 win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga that put him in the Madrid Masters quarterfinals.

“It’s not very special,” Federer said. “It’s very nice to have records. Sure, money is important in life but it’s not everything.”

The five-time Wimbledon champion’s total is now $43,317,870. Sampras, who won a record 14 Grand Slams, held the mark at $43,280,489.

Federer, who turned pro 10 years ago, paid homage to the tennis stars before him.

“This is also the moment when you can thank the amateur greats for helping to bring the game to where it is today,” he said. “They helped create the platform where we are today.”

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal is the only other active player on the top-10 career earnings list, but he has won less than half of Federer’s total.

Federer has been the season’s leading money winner for five straight seasons but could be displaced by Nadal. Sampras and Ivan Lendl topped the list six times, but never five straight.