Naomi Osaka recently left IMG and to launch her own sports agency, called Evolve company. The Japan native and tennis star has been a fan favorite since competing against veteran Serena Williams and winning the U.S. Open title in 2018. The Japan native has been one of the most dominant players on the tour, winning two Grand Slams and ascending to the No. 1 ranking in the world. However, her relationship with her former agent, IMG, has been fraught with tension.
According to Sportico, Osaka’s contract with IMG ended at the end of 2021, prompting the 23-year-old to start her own company. In a statement, Osaka stated that she was “grateful” for her time at IMG but that she felt it was time to “evolve” her career. She added that Evolve would be a “more flexible” company that would better support her interests both on and off the court.
With her new company Evolve, Osaka joins a growing list of athletes who have chosen to launch their own agencies in recent years. It remains to be seen whether Evolve will be as successful as its competitors, but one thing is for sure: Naomi Osaka will have more control over her career and her schedule, and she will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the tennis court.
