Top doubles players continue to give their singles peers a run for their money. The latest prize money standings have China’s Chen Qingchen as the second-highest earner this year, with US$138,139 – ahead of even top singles stars like Lee Chong Wei and Tai Tzu Ying.
Despite playing only one match in the post-World Championships period – a first round Women’s Doubles loss at the Daihatsu Yonex Japan Open – Chen’s performances in both her doubles categories through the year saw her earnings surpass those of most of the other top stars. Chen (featured image) made US$80,465 in Mixed Doubles and US$57,673.75 in Women’s Doubles. The only player to stay ahead of her is India’s Men’s Singles spearhead Kidambi Srikanth, who raked in US$149,797 – thanks largely to his two World Superseries titles in Indonesia and Australia, after finishing runner-up in Singapore.
Nor was Chen the only doubles player to strike it rich. Compatriot Huang Yaqiong – like Chen a versatile Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles player – earned US$110,855 to finish in fourth place overall. Among the other high earners were those who excel in both their doubles categories, such as Chen’s Mixed Doubles partner Zheng Siwei (US$94,475), Denmark’s Christinna Pedersen (US$60,674), China’s Wang Yilyu (US$47,797), China’s Huang Dongping (US$45,283) and Zhang Nan (US$40,313).
Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting climbed to fourth spot among the top earners in Men’s Singles following his first Superseries victory, at the Victor Korea Open. Ginting’s earnings of US$57,920 placed him behind Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei (US$83,650) and Lin Dan (China), who is third with US$71,745.
World champion Viktor Axelsen (Denmark), winner in India and Japan, is sixth with US$54,450.
In Women’s Singles, Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying leads with US$135,225, a long way ahead of World champion Nozomi Okuhara (Japan) who made US$97,912, while World Championships runner-up Pusarla V Sindhu (India) isn’t too far behind, with US$93,212. Spain’s Carolina Marin, winner in Japan, is fifth with US$80,985.
Indonesia’s Marcus Fernaldi Gideon and Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, the most successful Men’s Doubles pair this year with four Superseries titles, each has US$86,925. In second place are Denmark’s Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen – winners in Singapore and Korea – who have each made US$64,149.
In Women’s Doubles, Korea’s Lee So Hee is the top earner with US$69,509, just ahead of her partner Chang Ye Na (US$64,647). Japan’s Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi are second with earnings of US$58,637 each.
World championships runners-up Zheng Siwei/Chen Qingchen lead the earnings in Mixed Doubles, with US$80,465 each, while compatriots Lu Kai/Huang Yaqiong are second with US$67,096 each.
For list of top earners, click here
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