Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka is now playing on Team Nike — although some were looking for her to go a different direction in the ultracompetitive world of sports marketing deals.
Nike revealed its partnership with Japanese-born Osaka, the world’s number-one women’s single tennis player, on Thursday. But fans will have to wait until the Stuttgart Grand Prix, which begins April 22, to see the 21-year-old tennis player on the courts in Nike gear.
The news came as a bit of a surprise as many thought Osaka was courting a new corporate beau.
In September, after Osaka nabbed the U.S. Open title from Serena Williams, Osaka was rumored to be in talks with rival Adidas for an apparel endorsement worth an estimated 6.5 million pounds, or $8.5 million. She already had a deal with Adidas, but the rumored arrangement would have made the tennis star the highest-paid female athlete ever to sign with Adidas. Osaka was also seen sporting Adidas apparel as recently as January while competing in the Australian Open.
While Nike nabbed Osaka, the jilted Adidas had some blockbuster news of its own — which it chose to release the same day the Nike-Osaka tie-up was announced.
The German sports apparel, footwear and accessory
Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.
Read More…