{"id":1820361,"date":"2026-03-11T15:00:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T12:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1820361"},"modified":"2026-03-11T15:00:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T12:00:27","slug":"aryna-sabalenka-says-she-feels-sorry-for-naomi-osaka-after-agency-switch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1820361","title":{"rendered":"Aryna Sabalenka says she &#8216;feels sorry&#8217; for Naomi Osaka after agency switch"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Aryna Sabalenka says she \u2018feels sorry\u2019 for Naomi Osaka after agency switch<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/shahidaj\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Shahida Jacobs                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"11 Mar 2026 3:00 PM\" data-ps-date=\"11 Mar 2026 3:00 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1773241227\"><br \/>\n                            11 Mar 2026 3:00 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            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space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/common\/google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Aryna Sabalenka says she \u2018feels sorry\u2019 for Naomi Osaka after agency switch\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Aryna-Sabalenka-with-inset-of-Naomi-Osaka-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Aryna Sabalenka with inset of Naomi Osaka\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Aryna Sabalenka with Naomi Osaka inset                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Aryna Sabalenka believes Naomi Osaka made the wrong decision to change sports agencies, saying \u201cI just feel sorry for her\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Former world No 1 Osaka launched the Evolve \u2013 the first female-athlete-led talent agency \u2013 with her former agent Stuart Dugui back in early 2022 and the company snapped up a host of big-name stars.<\/p>\n<p>Nick Kyrgios and Ons Jabeur were among the first tennis players to sign up with involve before they landed world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka in January 2025 with other WTA stars Iva Jovic, Eva Lys and Anna Kalinskaya also joining.<\/p>\n<p>But caught everyone by surprise last December when she announced that she would part ways with Evolve after just three years, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/naomi-osakas-short-statement-after-quitting-agency-she-co-founded\">announcing on social media<\/a>: \u201cWriting this to say starting in the new year I\u2019ll be parting ways with Evolve.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been a great run and I\u2019m so grateful for all the memories we shared.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In January, it was confirmed that the four-time Grand Slam winner returned to IMG Tennis, the tennis division of WME, the company that represented her from 2016 until December 2021 with her close friend and long-time manager, Alex Boston, also moving back.<\/p>\n<p>Despite Osaka\u2019s departure, Evolve has made a lot of headlines in teh past year as they organised the high-profile Battle of the Sexes clash between Sabalenka and Kyrgios in December.<\/p>\n<h2>WTA News<\/h2>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/naomi-osaka-aryna-sabalenka-grunting-tricked-her-indian-wells\">Naomi Osaka reveals how Aryna Sabalenka\u2019s grunting \u2018tricked\u2019 her in Indian Wells Open loss<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/indian-wells-naomi-osaka-look-good-feel-good-approach-eye-catching-outfit\"><strong>Indian Wells: Naomi Osaka explains \u2018look good, feel good\u2019 approach after latest eye-catching outfit<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sabalenka has also become one of the highest-paid female sports stars in the world as, according to Forbes, she made $30m during the 2025 season with $15m coming from off-court endorsements.<\/p>\n<p>After the two Grand Slam winners squared off in the fourth round of the Indian Wells Open, Sabalenka was asked if it is difficult facing a player who used to be part of the same agency.<\/p>\n<p>She replied: \u201cNot at all. I just feel sorry for her that she moved from Evolve back to IMG. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a smart decision to do.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m happy, I\u2019m super happy that now all time that they were kind of like, how you say, balancing between me and the Naomi, now I got most of the time. I\u2019m happy with that (smiling).\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Osaka was told about Sabalenak\u2019s comments and she had the following to say.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWas she laughing when she said it (smiling)?\u201d the Japanese star started off.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLook, we\u2019re two different people, like, for sure. I think her experiences aren\u2019t the same as mine, and I wouldn\u2019t have it any other way, you know.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor me, I have always loved IMG. I have been treated really well there, and the people there are really kind to me. I would recommend to IMG to people. I guess she wouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut, yeah, I think we just have two very different experiences at two different places.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sabalenka won in straight sets in what was only their second career meeting following Osaka\u2019s three-set victory at the 2018 US Open.<\/p>\n<p>The Belarusian was asked if she was feeling pressure ahead of the match, given that her rival is a former world No 1 and a four-time major champion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think about this kind of stuff going to the match,\u201d she said. \u201cI just focus on myself, focus on the game plan that I have, and this is what I learn with experience that you better leave this stuff outside of the tennis court, and you go out there and you do your best. That\u2019s what I\u2019m focusing on.<\/p>\n<p>She added: \u201cI feel like I started doing better when she got pregnant. I think that\u2019s why we didn\u2019t have much opportunities to face each other, and I feel like, pretty sure that we\u2019re gonna face each other many more times.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aryna Sabalenka says she \u2018feels sorry\u2019 for Naomi Osaka after agency switch Shahida Jacobs 11 Mar 2026 3:00 PM Aryna Sabalenka with Naomi Osaka inset Aryna Sabalenka believes Naomi Osaka made the wrong decision to change sports agencies, saying \u201cI just feel sorry for her\u201d. Former world No 1 Osaka launched the Evolve \u2013 the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1820361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1820361"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1820361\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1820361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1820361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1820361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}