Naomi Osaka leaves IMG to launch own sports agency, Evolve

Naomi Osaka has left IMG to launch her own sports management company with longtime agent Stuart Duguid, the tennis star told Sportico. 

The agency will be called Evolve and operate as a "small boutique" that is "athlete driven," Duguid told Reuters.

Osaka and Duguid, who have a seven-year partnership that extends to deals with Nike and KINLÒ, a skincare brand for people of color, started discussing this possibility at the Tokyo Olympics, Duguid said.

The four-time singles Grand Slam champion told Sportico that Evolve is the logical next step in her career.

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"I've spent my career doing things my way, even when people told me that it wasn't what was expected or traditional," Osaka, 24, said. "Evolve is the natural next step in my journey as both an athlete and businesswoman, as well as a way to continue being myself and doing things my way."

"We were discussing the business models of some of her mentors like Kobe (Bryant) and Lebron (James). We thought – why has no transcendent female athlete done that yet," said Duguid. "It's athlete driven and focused on big picture brand building rather than quick check."

Although potential clients have not yet been disclosed, Osaka has received an inquiry from Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving. 

"Yall got room over at your agency for hoopers. Just inquiring," Irving wrote in a direct tweet to Osaka, who responded with "always room."

Contact Analis Bailey at aabailey@usatoday.com or on Twitter @analisbailey.