Former No. 1 Roger Federer has decided to make a go of it in the sports representation business, teaming with his longtime agent Tony Godsick and two other American investors to form an agency called Team8.
*The New York Times* reported that the company will be based in Cleveland, Ohio, where Godsick lives with his wife, U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez, and their children. Godsick and Federer left IMG in June 2012 and there have been rumors swirling since then that the 32-year-old Swiss tennis star was ready to plunge into the agency business. Godsick was Federer’s agent at IMG before they both left the firm.
Team8 will not only manage much of Federer’s massive portfolio, but it has also has signed Juan Martin del Potro as a high-profile client, and according to Times has also taken on up-and-comer Grigor Dimitrov, who was once nicknamed "Baby Federer."
“We’re trying to be a boutique agency that will manage just a small stable of iconic athletes,” Godsick said. “We’re really going to try to be selective here. Some of the other groups, they look to sign as many players as they can and hope a few of them stick and make it, and they really go after the juniors. We’re not going to.”
Godsick added that Team8 is also interested in acquiring or creating events, and representing athletes in other sports.
“I can sell Roger Federer really well, but nobody sells Roger better than Roger,” Godsick said. “I always joke with him, ‘Look, you’ve been really successful on the tennis court, but I promise you, you’ll be more successful when you’re done playing tennis.’ ”
The other investors are said to be Ian McKinnon and billionaire Dirk Ziff.
Godsick also added that Federer is once again trying out new racquets. He did so last summer before going back to his trademark 90-square inch Wilson Pro Staff at the U.S. Open.