'Next Maria Sharapova': Teenage star in $100 million tennis bombshell
Nike is reportedly going all in on Amanda Anisimova, offering the 18-year-old tennis phenom a record endorsement deal.
Nike has reportedly offered the American phenom a long-term deal that is said to be one of the biggest ever for a teenager.
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The deal is said to be somewhere in the neighbourhood of the one signed by Maria Sharapova, who is coming to the end of an eight-year $100 million agreement.
Nike clearly sees Anisimova as the fresh face of their next marketing push, and Sharapova’s probable replacement.
The 18-year-old is currently ranked World No.21 - the youngest female player inside the world’s top 60.
She made the French Open semi-finals in June where she was beaten by eventual champion Ash Barty.
Anisimova’s social media strategy
Anisimova appears to be following in Sharapova’s footsteps, on and off the court.
Sharapova has built a $280m empire with her business exploits, cashing in on her image as well as her tennis skills.
And according to her IMG agent Max Eisenbud (who also manages Sharapova), the plans are similar for Anisimova.
“Once Amanda beat [Simona] Halep (at the French Open), I put a team in place to make sure her social media is on point,” Eisenbud recently told ESPN.
“You can’t get endorsement deals without having good social media. That is the world we live in now.
“I talked to her about how many times a day to post and that it might seem weird, but people want to know what you had for breakfast or when you’re training. And how one stupid post can ruin everything.”
But Anisimova knows the results have to come on the tennis court too.
“My next biggest goal is to win a grand slam. Soon,” she said in August.
“I know it’s not going to happen overnight. An old coach told me something you do now might help you in three months, and that’s definitely true.
“Every day I work the hardest I can. I know that’s what I have to do for my career to go the way I want it to.”