Today, beneath the lights of Court Philippe-Chatrier, a blockbuster match awaits the Parisian crowd. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka are set to clash in a fourth-round match at the French Open. But while both superstars are locked in on securing a quarter-final berth and eyeing their first title at Roland Garros, we’re taking a look at an off-court, brand-related rift that involved both.
Why Did Naomi Osaka Ditch Evolve for IMG, and Why Did Aryna Sabalenka Feel ‘Sorry’ for Her?
In 2022, Osaka made a power move. She walked away from the sports management giant IMG to co-found her own boutique agency, Evolve, with her longtime agent Stuart Duguid. She was following in the footsteps of legends like Roger Federer and LeBron James, becoming the first female athlete of her profile to take full commercial control of her career.
At first, the agency made major waves and even landed the signings of Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios, alongside Ons Jabeur, Anna Kalinskaya, Eva Lys, Iva Jović, and Terence Atmane. However, shortly after Evolve’s launch, Osaka took maternity leave from the sport. While she was away from the court, the agency’s success largely fell to Sabalenka. The Belarusian star dominated the tour, securing her spot as the No. 1 player in the world and becoming Evolve’s most promoted client.
Things got twisted when, at the end of 2025, Osaka pulled the plug on her Evolve venture, announcing she was returning to the familiar fold of IMG for the 2026 season. Since returning to the WTA tour, Osaka has had to focus more on rebuilding her ranking and competing for Grand Slams, and carrying the corporate weight of an agency was a distraction.
Sabalenka, who had a famously rocky past with IMG and had kept Evolve’s momentum alive during Osaka’s hiatus, didn’t hold back when asked about Osaka’s decision. Sabalenka noted that it was hard to understand how someone could walk away from their own creation. “I just feel sorry for her that she moved from Evolve back to IMG. I don’t think that’s a smart decision to do,” Sabalenka said.
When the press relayed the comments to Osaka, she handled it with a smile. “Was she laughing when she said it?” Osaka responded. “Look, we’re two different people, for sure. I have always loved IMG. I have been treated really well there… I would recommend IMG to people. I guess she wouldn’t. We just have two very different experiences at two different places.”
The two played twice this year, at Indian Wells and the Madrid Open, both won by the world No. 1. However, the tension between them doesn’t seem to have ended, as Sabalenka recently took a thinly veiled dig at Osaka’s fashion choices.
MORE: Aryna Sabalenka vs Naomi Osaka Preview: Head-to-Head, Prediction for French Open 2026
Osaka has been walking to the court in custom-made outfits, and when asked about it, Sabalenka said: ‘I think it fit perfectly with her personality, her culture, and many things. It was great. Good for her, but I’d pick something classier.”
Today’s showdown also marks a major milestone for Roland-Garros, breaking a multi-year drought as the first prime-time, women’s night-session match scheduled on Court Philippe-Chatrier since 2023. And given their complicated history, it won’t be just another battle for a spot in the quarterfinals.
