By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday May 11, 2022
Naomi Osaka and her longtime agent Stuart Duguid have left IMG to start their own agency, EVOLVE.
Osaka announced the news on social media today, saying:
“I’ve spent my career doing things my way, even when people told me that it wasn’t what was expected or traditional. Evolve is the natural next step in my journey as both an athlete and businesswoman.”
Osaka is the world’s highest paid female athlete, with over $50 million earned in endorsements last year from her stable of endorsement deals which include Airbnb, Workday, Nike, Mastercard, Louis Vuitton, Nissin Foods, Shiseido and Yonex.
She is following in the footsteps of Roger Federer, who left IMG to form his own agency, TEAM 8, years ago.
Osaka’s agent said the following: "We’ve watched transcendent male athletes make these kind of moves in the past (Lebron, KD, Roger, Rafa) but hadn’t yet seen an iconic female do it. I would doubt anyone is surprised that Naomi is the first. It’s a privilege as always to be on this journey alongside her.”