Naomi Osaka has returned to IMG Tennis for representation, ending a nearly three-year chapter with Evolve, the boutique agency she co-founded. The four-time Grand Slam champion confirmed the move in a co-branded Instagram post with the agency on Jan. 8.
Max Eisenbud, WME Sports Head of Client Representation and longtime IMG Tennis super-agent, will lead Naomi Osaka’s representation team, according to Sports Business Journal. Eisenbud brings extensive tennis representation experience and was recognized as a 2010 SBJ Forty Under 40 recipient.
Osaka, 28, was previously represented by IMG from 2016 to 2022 before leaving to launch Evolve with her former agent Stuart Duguid. The pair also co-founded production company Hana Kuma, which remains separate from this representation change.
The Japanese-American star left IMG in 2022 to create Evolve, seeking greater flexibility and control over her commercial partnerships. The move reflected a broader trend of elite athletes taking direct control of their business affairs. However, Osaka split with Evolve in December 2025.
Despite losing Osaka, Evolve maintains a strong client roster. The agency currently represents WTA world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who left IMG for Evolve around a year ago. Other clients include Nick Kyrgios, Eva Lys, Anna Kalinskaya and rising talent Iva Jovic.
IMG Tennis has actively strengthened its roster over the past year. The division recently secured Coco Gauff, the two-time major winner who left Team8, the agency co-founded by Roger Federer. Other prominent players on IMG’s books include men’s world number one Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Emma Raducanu, Taylor Fritz and tennis legend Serena Williams. The agency also signed Ben Shelton from Team8.
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About Naomi Osaka
Osaka has won four Grand Slam singles titles: the US Open in 2018 and 2020, and the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021. Beyond tennis, she has built a significant commercial profile with endorsement deals across fashion, technology and consumer brands. She has been one of the highest-earning female athletes globally and remains an influential figure in sports marketing despite recent challenges with form and injuries.
About IMG Tennis and WME Sports
IMG Tennis operates as the tennis division of WME Sports, part of the broader Endeavor network. The agency has represented many of tennis’s biggest stars throughout its history and maintains one of the most influential rosters in professional tennis representation.
