Naomi Osaka Clarifies Evolve Exit, Denies Ownership Involvement
Naomi Osaka recently addressed her exit from the representation agency Evolve, which many believed she co-founded. The four-time Grand Slam champion clarified that she never held ownership or shares in the agency. This departure marks her return to IMG, the agency that represented her before Evolve’s inception.
Clarification on Evolve Exit
In an interview with Bounces, Osaka expressed confusion surrounding her departure. She emphasized, “I signed a client-agent contract with Evolve, so I didn’t have any shares or equity. I never did.” Osaka also mentioned that she disagreed with certain decisions made by the agency, highlighting the stress of being publicly associated with a company without having control over its actions.
Initially labeled as “Osaka’s agency,” she indicated that this perception was aligned with the original intentions. Osaka stated, “That’s obviously what I wanted and what was promised,” suggesting that the vision for Evolve did not align with how it materialized.
Return to IMG
Naomi Osaka’s return to IMG sees her rejoining a roster that includes notable players like:
- Nick Kyrgios
- Aryna Sabalenka
- Anna Kalinskaya
- Ons Jabeur
IMG has aimed for a selective but influential list of athletes. Evolve itself was instrumental in organizing the controversial Battle of the Sexes exhibition featuring Kyrgios and Sabalenka, which generated diverse reactions throughout the tennis community.
Australian Open Debut
As she prepares for the Australian Open, Osaka has aspirations for a successful campaign. This tournament is significant for her, having clinched two Grand Slam titles there in 2019 and 2021. For the first time since 2022, she enters the tournament as a seeded player.
Osaka is set to face rising star Antonia Ružić, seeded 16th, in the night session on January 20. Following a strong finish to the 2025 season, where she reached the finals of the Canadian Open and the semifinals of the US Open, her resurgence has sparked optimism for the upcoming year.
Current Form and Rankings
Osaka is currently ranked world No. 14, her highest ranking in four years. Her physical condition appears robust, and her ambitions for the 2026 season are notably high.
