Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka is set to part ways with long-time agent Stuart Duguid three years after the pair co-founded sports agency Evolve.
Osaka ventured into sports representation in 2022, leaving her former management team at IMG after her contract lapsed at he end of 2021 to establish her own sports representation firm.
According to reports, Osaka will dissolve her working partnership with Duguid at Evolve. Duguid will continue to lead the agency and manage its remaining playing roster.
LIVE UPDATES: The Ashes third Test, day three
READ MORE: England ‘crumble’ again as ‘petrified rabbit’ cops hammering
READ MORE: Paul’s bizarre moment as 12kg weight difference revealed
Aryna Sabalenka and Naomi Osaka share a moment during the Garden Cup at Madison Square Garden. Adam Hunger via Getty Images
The agency manages sponsorships and investments for an elite roster, currently featuring co-founder Osaka alongside Australian Nick Kyrgios and Anna Kalinskaya, who were the first high-profile players to sign with the firm.
In 2025, Evolve expanded its footprint, diversifying its roster with a mix of rising talent and established stars.
The expanded stable now features women’s world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, Ons Jabeur, Terence Atmane, Eva Lys and rising American teenager Iva Jovic.
Beyond talent management, Evolve is the architect of the upcoming “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match in Dubai between roster mates Kyrgios and Sabalenka.
The agency was also behind the recent Atlanta Cup exhibition, where Sabalenka faced Osaka, and Kyrgios took on American Ben Shelton. This was followed by the Garden Cup doubles event that showcased the agency’s core trio of Osaka, Sabalenka and Kyrgios, with Tommy Paul rounding out the field in place of Shelton.
According to tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, Osaka’s contract with Evolve will expire at the end of this year, clearing the way for a high-profile return to IMG.
Watch Nick Kyrgios v Arnya Sabalenka in the Battle of the Sexes on 29 December live and exclusive on Stan Sport.
Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios are close friends off-court. Allen Berezovsky via Getty Images
Duguid previously served as Osaka’s agent at IMG for six years, with the pair working together throughout her dominant 2016–2022 run. Evolve has handled her representation since then.
Osaka will reportedly return to IMG starting in 2026, transferring alongside her close friend and longtime manager, Alex Boston.
In a major industry shake-up, Osaka is distancing herself from the boutique model she attempted to build at Evolve.
The move suggests Osaka is prioritising a more robust support system for her commercial deals and 2026 season, with IMG offering a level of global infrastructure that a small firm like Evolve cannot match.
By trading the autonomy of being a co-founder for a global powerhouse’s commercial department, Osaka could be streamlining her off-court life to focus on her brand’s longevity and a serious push back to the top of the WTA rankings.
While Hana Kuma — the production company Osaka and Duguid launched with LeBron James’ SpringHill — found its footing, other ventures under the Evolve umbrella have struggled to gain traction.
Naomi Osaka celebrates after clinching the first set of her US Open semi-final clash against Amanda Anisimova. Getty
The business slump mirrored a dip on the court for Osaka. By the end of 2022, Osaka was openly considering walking away from the game, ultimately using her pregnancy and maternity leave as the reset she required to launch her 2024 comeback.
Despite its growing roster, without Osaka as its primary client and stakeholder, Evolve faces an uncertain future.
Her departure will likely prompt questions about whether the agency can maintain the same level of resources and stability for its remaining high-profile clients.
Osaka was a pioneer as the first professional female athlete to take full control of her brand by launching her own agency, following in the footsteps of Roger Federer and James.
However, her move away from the ‘athlete-as-executive’ model and back to a major firm highlights the challenges of balancing a professional career with the management of a multi-client business.
AloJapan.com