Anisimova is currently ranked No. 21, making her the youngest female player inside the world’s top 60getty images
Nike has in place a long-term deal for U.S. tennis player Amanda Anisimova that is "said to be one of the biggest ever for a teenager," according to Sam Goodwin of YAHOO SPORTS AUSTRALIA. The deal with the 18-year-old Anisimova is "somewhere in the neighbourhood of the one signed" by Maria Sharapova, who is coming to the end of an eight-year, $70M agreement with Nike. The company "clearly sees Anisimova as the fresh face of their next marketing push, and Sharapova’s probable replacement." Anisimova reached the semifinals of the French Open and is currently ranked No. 21, making her the "youngest female player inside the world’s top 60." Sharapova over her career has built close to a $200M "empire with her business exploits, cashing in on her image as well as her tennis skills." IMG's Max Eisenbud, who reps both Anisimova and Sharapova, previously indicated that the "plans are similar" for Anisimova (AU.SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/31).
MARKET MANIA: NEWS.com.au's Jai Bednall notes Anisimova has been "rubber stamped as tennis's next marketing phenom." While the past two U.S. Open winners -- Bianca Andreescu and Naomi Osaka -- "look set to lead the next generation of female stars," it is Anisimova that has the "off-court appeal" that turned Sharapova and Anna Kournikova into moneymakers (NEWS.com.au, 11/1). In N.Y., Marc Berman writes women's tennis is "on solid ground, even if Serena Williams retires shortly," as Anisimova, Andreescu, Osaka and Coco Gauff make "for a compelling future" (N.Y. POST, 11/1).
