Naomi Osaka launches her own agency to 'remove barriers that still exist in sport'

True to the adage that you are never better served than by yourself, tennis star Naomi Osaka, 24, four-time Grand Slam winner - twice in Australia and twice at the US Open - left the sports management group IMG, to launch Evolve, his own agency, reports Sportico on Wednesday.

🚀🚀🚀 @stuartduguid https://t.co/3au8bguqdY

— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) May 11, 2022

“I've spent my career doing things my way, even when people told me it wasn't what was expected.

Evolve is the natural next step in my journey as an athlete and businesswoman, as well as a way to continue being myself and doing things my way,” the Japanese woman explained in a statement sent to the publication specializing in sports-business.

Osaka, the world's highest-paid sportswoman for several years,'s contract with sports management giant IMG expired at the end of last year and she chose not to renew it.

Her former agent Stuart Duguid followed her to become her partner.

Both have stakes in Evolve which has no other investors at this stage, according to Sportico.

“I strongly believe in the power of athletes to use their platforms of expression,” Osaka told Sportico, adding that she wants her agency to be “pioneers in breaking down barriers that still exist in sport and in culture in general”.

This week, Osaka withdrew before the Rome tournament, to recover from an Achilles tendon injury before Roland-Garros.

Currently ranked 38th in the world, she has shown her best on the courts this season after many difficult months mentally, due to recurring anxiety problems.

She notably reached the final of the Miami Open, finally beaten by world number one Iga Swiatek.

Absent in 2020 and forfeited from the 2nd round in 2021 at Roland-Garros, the next edition of which (May 22 - June 5) begins in ten days, the Japanese has never passed the milestone of the first week in Paris in five attempts.