IMG Denies Report Sharapova, Nike Are Set To Split After 20 Years

Sharapova originally signed her lifetime apparel deal with Nike when she was 11GETTY IMAGES

IMG Tennis VP Max Eisenbud claims a report that Maria Sharapova is set to split with longtime sponsor Nike is "fiction," according to Stephanie Myles of TENNIS.life. Eisenbud said, "Maria has a lifetime deal with Nike. Her fans will get to see some of her best dresses in 2019." He added, "It's just incredible how a publication can make up lies and not be held accountable. Even worse is how other publications run with the story as if it is fact. It's a huge issue" (TENNIS.life, 10/21). In the original report, the SUN's Dan King noted Sharapova and Nike were parting ways after a "20-year partnership that helped make her the richest sportswoman in the world" (THESUN.co.uk, 10/20).