Godsick and Federer Leave IMG; Likely to Stay Together

Written by: Staff on 4th June 2012

Godsick and Federer Leave IMG; Likely to Stay Together

epa03247603 Roger Federer of Switzerland returns to David Goffin of Belgium during their round of 16 match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 03 June 2012. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA |

The resignation of Tony Godsick, the longtime agent of Roger Federer, from the giant sport agency IMG, has the tennis world buzzing at to what the high powered agent’s future is, and also as to what Federer himself will do, as his contract with IMG has lapsed.

Sources tell Daily Tennis that it is highly improbable that Federer and Godsick have actually split, and are just biding their time until they make a new announcement as to what type of arrangement they have.

When asked if Godsick was still representing him at Roland Garros on the day that his contract expired with IMG , Federer said: ” Right now, I don’t think so.” He also added that much of the information was confidential

However, sources say that is likely because that two have an arrangement where Federer has agreed not to go into detail until Godsick announces where he is moving.

Two agencies have been mentioned as good possibilities for Godsick, who is married to U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez: CAA sports, which has an up and coming tennis division and already represents Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Andre Agassi and his wife Steffi Graf; and Excel Sports Management, where Godsick’s friend Mark Steinberg, works. Steinberg represents Tiger Woods and a number of other top golfers.

CAA is seen as an attractive option for Godsick because it’s continued to build its sports division and hired three former IMG executives over the past six years: former IMG President & co-CEO Bob Kain, who was a major force in tennis; former IMG football agent Tom Condon and former IMG baseball agent Casey Close.

Godsick might be planning on running the tennis division there.

There is also talk that Lagardere — which represents Andy Roddick and Victoria Azarenka, among others — may be making a play for Godsick, but that is more of a crowded shop and it’s doubtful that he will want to work under men whom he sees as his peers.

Federer signed with IMG in 2005 after being recruited by the company’s late owner Ted Forstmann. Federer was first represented with IMG and then briefly left the company, where his business was managed by wife Mirka, his mother Lynette and a lawyer from Switzerland.

Godsick had a two-year agreement with IMG that just expired and it is believed that he knew he was going to leave the company when he signed it.

He worked well with founder Mark McCormack as well as Teddy Forstmann, who bought the company after McCormack passed away. Forstmann passed away last year and while Federer did leave, he left the possibility open that he might re-sign with IMG, it seems highly unlikely as he if was planning on doing so he likely would have already re-signed.

Plus, IMG no longer has a visible head of its tennis division and there is talk that the company might try and get out of the representation business all together.

“Yeah, maybe,” Federer said when asked about the possibility of re-signing with IMG. “I have no idea. I mean, I’ve had a good time myself. I was very close with Teddy Forstmann, who unfortunately passed away last year. Obviously I had an emotional attachment to the company that way. He was the one who brought me back really, and so obviously when all of that happened, potentially it wasn’t helpful. I don’t know at this moment what’s gonna happen next. ”

The 30-year-old Federer makes around $52 million a year from prize money and endorsements. It is unclear how long some of his deal are or how much IMG is making off the fees from Federer’s existing deals, but the range is somewhere likely between 5 and 10 percent. His deal with Nike — which is worth around $13 million per year– does not expire until 2018. His lifetime Wilson deal could have some clauses that allow him to use another agency other than IMG.

If Godsick and Federer are teaming up again he will likely look for new deals for Federer.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Andy Roddick, IMG tennis news, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, Tony Godsick, Victoria Azarenka