Osaka has signed a number of new endorsements since winning her first Grand Slam at last year's U.S. OpenBODYARMOR
Top-ranked female tennis player Naomi Osaka has signed new marketing deals with BodyArmor, performance recovery brand Hyperice and headphone company Muzik, and while the agreements will "barely budge her endorsement earnings this year ... she received equity stakes in all three emerging companies," according to Kurt Badenhausen of FORBES. Muzik on Friday released a new headphone designed by Osaka that marks the "first celebrity signature line for the company." She will "receive royalties on the product, in addition to her equity stake." Meanwhile, Hyperice this week "launched marketing campaigns in Japan and the U.S. this week featuring Osaka as part of a multi-year deal." Osaka is "expected to be one of the faces" of the '20 Tokyo Games due to her Japanese heritage, and Hyperice is "already mapping out marketing plans around the Games." Despite the new additions to her growing portfolio, no company is as "important to Osaka's brand and bank account as Nike." The apparel giant has unveiled a "collaboration with Japanese designer brand Sacai for an 11-piece collection" ahead of next week's U.S. Open, and she will have her "own Nike logo and athleisure line starting in 2020." Meanwhile, Osaka said that she is working "with a Japanese fashion brand and a project with LeBron [James] and his business partner Maverick Carter" (FORBES.com, 8/23).
GETTING NETWORK TREATMENT: Osaka on Friday was profiled on "CBS This Morning," with the net's Vladimir Duthiers noting the 21-year-old has "already reached the pinnacle of her sport.” Despite her "soaring celebrity and influence, she’s grounded and credits tennis legend Serena Williams, a lifelong role model.” Osaka: “I have this huge respect for her … and I really want to talk to her about life and stuff, and how she manages to do things on and off the court. But I don’t want to be disrespectful to her and try to talk to her like she’s my mentor while she’s still playing. So, I’m kind of just chilling on that” (“CBS This Morning,” 8/23).
