Tennis star Naomi Osaka has parted ways with IMG and is launching her own sports agency called “Evolve.”
She quipped:
“I’ve spent my career doing things my way, even when people told me that it wasn’t what was expected or traditional.”
Osaka is the world’s highest-paid female athlete and the move raised some discussions on Twitter:
Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned and you just gotta find joy in the unknown.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 8, 2022
Hey kid, you’ve come a long way and even though there’s been some bumps on the road I hope you know you’re doing amazing. pic.twitter.com/l01kNg3sWi
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 11, 2022
Ace ASMR
— Tanya (@ScriptedTanya) May 1, 2022
First 100 aces of Naomi Osaka in 2022 WTA Season (15 matches, 34 sets) after her R1 win in Madrid. pic.twitter.com/REObUINTcP
Tennis business news:
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) May 11, 2022
After her contract ended in 2021, Naomi Osaka has left IMG to start her own agency, EVOLVE, with her longtime agent Stuart Duguid.
Osaka, the highest-paid female athlete in the world for several years now, is the first top female athlete to make this move.
Naomi Osaka has evolutionized the sport of tennis in many ways from bringing awareness to racial injustices to mental health through her personal experiences. EVOLVE is a great name. https://t.co/b5lkSeN97K
— C. (@ChelseaSherrod) May 11, 2022
.@naomiosaka is leaving IMG to launch EVOLVE, her own sports agency, with her agent Stuart Duguid.
— Just Women’s Sports (@justwsports) May 11, 2022
She becomes the first female athlete at her level to take full business control and attempt to build an agency. pic.twitter.com/vkLRa19CZT