Agent Max Eisenbud says that Tiger Woods influenced Maria Sharapova’s brand approach on Andy Roddick’s “Served” podcast
Eisenbud has worked with the former No. 1 player for more than 20 years and explained how he made the most of the brand partnership without distracting her from her play on the court.
As Maria Sharapova grows from aspiring pro to Wimbledon champion in her teens, her interest in branding and partnerships has become a watchword, and the combination of these efforts is essential to her long-term success. was. “The key is knowing how to maximize your income while winning,” says Max Eisenbad on the latest episode of his podcast with Andy Roddick.
Eisenbud worked with Sharapova for more than 23 years. Currently a vice president at IMG, he has won five Grand Slam titles and is the No. 1 seed she first won less than a year after winning her first Wimbledon title at the age of 17 in 2005. contributed to the acquisition.
To build brand recognition, they took inspiration from none other than golf sensation Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods himself was at the top in his mid-2000s. “Mark Steinberg was a colleague of mine working on the 13th floor (at IMG), so I spent a lot of time with him to understand how Tiger manages his transactions. I’d like to spend three weeks a year filming, and during that time I’ll be shooting five times a week.
Sharapova and Woods were in their mid-20s and at the peak of their respective sports, with the former winning Wimbledon at just 17 years old. Eisenbad immediately worked with Charpaova’s father, Yuri, to determine which spot on Maria’s calendar would be most suitable for a sponsorship deal, and the then-teenager had to prepare and play in WTA tournaments. I drew a red line on the week that should not be done.
“We found out there are 16 days in the year, but that doesn’t stop her from becoming a great tennis player. Yuri told me: “Earn as much money as possible in 16 days.”
Eisenbad continues to use this strategy with players such as Li Na, Ema Raducanu, Ajla Tomljanovic, and Madison Keys. In another anecdote, Li, China’s first Grand Slam singles champion, told Roddick how he became the first player to sign with Nike to have patches on his clothing.
