Naomi Osaka is leaving the sports agency she co-founded

Naomi Osaka is leaving Evolve, the sports agency she co-founded with longtime agent Stuart Duguid, she announced on Friday.

Osaka's statement confirmed reporting by Ben Rothenberg at Bounces from a day prior, which said she'd be leaving after a three-year contract ended and returning to IMG, where she was represented by Duguid from 2016-21.

"Writing this to say starting in the new year I'll be parting ways with Evolve," wrote Osaka in a statement on social media. "It's been a great run and I'm so grateful for all the memories we shared."

While Osaka didn't confirm the other reporting—that her longtime manager, Alex Boston, is transferring with her from Evolve to IMG—she did suggest more off-court news would be forthcoming.

"When I make my decision on where I'll go next, you'll hear it from me," she added. "Thank you for supporting me always and I'm so excited for the year ahead!"

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After her initial contract with IMG lapsed, Osaka and Duguid jumped into the project together in 2022 following a 2021 season in which she captured her fourth Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, but also took two high-profile sabbaticals for mental health reasons.

Nick Kyrgios and Ons Jabeur were the boutique agency's first two clients, and its roster also includes Aryna Sabalenka, who joined from IMG in January and nearly doubled her off-court earnings this year; 18-year-old American Iva Jovic, the youngest player in the WTA's Top 100; as well as Terence Atmane, Eva Lys, and Anna Kalinskaya.

It has also hosted several one-night tennis events this year, including both the Atlanta Cup and Garden Cup this month, and the upcoming Dec. 28 "Battle of the Sexes" reprise between Kyrgios and Sabalenka.

Osaka had her strongest season on-court in 2025, despite battling injuries and changing coaches. She reached multiple finals for the first time in four years in Auckland and Montreal, and after splitting with Patrick Mouratoglou in July, posted a 14-4 win-loss record under the guidance of Iga Swiatek's former coach Tomasz Wiktorowski that also included a run to the US Open semifinals.

She finished the season ranked No. 16, and will start her 2026 campaign representing Japan at the United Cup.