Naomi Osaka is leaving Evolve, the agency she founded three years ago with long-time agent Stuart Duguid.
Osaka created Evolve in 2022 after splitting with her then management team, IMG.
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Naomi Osaka enjoyed her best year on tour this year since she returned from pregnancy in 2023Credit: Getty
According to reports, Duguid will continue leading the agency and managing the remaining athletes on their roster, which includes the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrigos and Ons Jabeur.
Osaka’s exit comes as a surprise, considering her close relationship with some of the players involved with her former firm.
Earlier this month, the four-time Grand Slam winner played an exhibition with Sabalenka at The Garden Cup in New York and mixed doubles with Kyrgios.
Evolve doesn’t just talent management, it also organises events like the recent Atlanta Cup exhibition.
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In that tournament, Sabalenka faced Osaka again, while Kyrgios took on Ben Shelton.
Osaka is expected to return to IMG
Several reports have claimed that Osaka will return to IMG starting in 2026.
However, she will be without Duguid, who was Osaka’s previous agent at IMG for six years, with the pair working together during her dominant 2016-2022 run, which saw her pick up four majors.
IMG, part of WME Sports, has a large roster of tennis players it manages, which includes the likes of Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisova, Ben Shilton, Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper.
Osaka’s exit comes ahead of Battle of the Sexes
Evolve is behind the controversial upcoming Battle of the Sexes match between Sabalenka and Kyrgios in Dubai on 28 December.
The match is inspired by the famous original 1973 Battle of the Sexes between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs.
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Osaka’s decision to leave her agency comes just weeks before the start of the 2025 seasonCredit: Getty
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Osaka is a four-time Grand Slam championCredit: Getty
King’s victory was watched by an estimated 90 million worldwide and is credited with playing a huge role in the women’s rights movement and push for equality.
However, Kyrgios’ bout with Sabalenka has been criticised by many, including King herself.
“The only similarity is that one is a boy and one is a girl. That’s it,” King told BBC Sport.
“Everything else, no. Ours was about social change; culturally, where we were in 1973. This one is not.
“I hope it’s a great match – I want Sabalenka, obviously, to win – but it’s just not the same.”
King, who later founded the Women’s Tennis Association, also pointed out that this year’s Battle of the Sexes will have modified rules.
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Osaka’s former agency is the firm behind the Battle of the SexesCredit: Getty
Each player will only receive one serve while Sabalenka’s side of the court will be 9% smaller, as according to Evolve, female players move 9% slower than their male counterparts.
“I played Bobby three out of five sets, I played on a court and didn’t change anything,” King added.
“I said, ‘look, I play straight up or else I’m not going to play’. And Bobby loved it.”
Sabalenka pushed back on criticisms that her match with Kyrgios will damage women’s sport, saying, “I don’t agree.”
“I am not putting myself at any risk. We’re there to have fun and bring great tennis. Whoever wins, wins.
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“It’s so obvious that the man is biologically stronger than the woman, but it’s not about that.
“This event is only going to help bring women’s tennis to a higher level.”
AloJapan.com