Naomi Osaka, the four-time Grand Slam champion, has left Evolve, the sports agency she co-founded three years ago.

Osaka set up the agency with Stuart Duguid in 2022, after her contract with IMG expired at the end of the previous year. Duguid also left IMG to create the new venture, which has since added star names like women’s world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios to its roster. Those two will compete in a Battle of the Sexes exhibition match in Dubai later this month, which has been criticized for its possible impact on women’s tennis and for Kyrgios’ central involvement.

In interviews with Piers Morgan earlier this month, Kyrgios and Sabalenka said that the event would be a “show” and a good advertisement for the sport.

Osaka confirmed the move with a post on social media Friday. “Hi everyone, writing this to say starting in the new year I’ll be parting ways with Evolve,” Osaka wrote. “It’s been a great run and I’m so grateful for all the memories shared.

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

Duguid did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He and Osaka also co-founded Hana Kuma, which produces a documentary about the player, as well as Kyrgios’ podcast, “Good Trouble.”

The split, which was first reported by Bounces, comes at the end of a successful year on court for Osaka. Having won four Grand Slams and reached world No. 1 between 2018 and 2021, she took breaks from tennis first to address her mental health, and then after giving birth to her first child, Shai, in 2023. During that period of success, Osaka became the highest-paid female athlete of all time, after earning over $37 million in prize money and endorsements in 2019 and then over $50 million in 2020, according to Sportico figures.

She returned for the start of the 2024 season, but endured an up-and down year. In 2025, Osaka achieved more consistent results on hard courts after hiring Tomasz Wiktorowski, ex-coach of six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Świątek. She reached the Canadian Open final and U.S. Open semifinal, climbing back to a post-childbirth high ranking of No. 14 in September. She is currently ranked No. 16 and will be looking to win a third Australian Open title in January.