Maria Sharapova’s agent, Max Eisenbud, recently recounted the fortuitous turn of events that led him to cross paths with the then 11-year-old Russian tennis prodigy and kick-started their professional collaboration.
Sharapova’s father, Yuri, made the significant decision to relocate his daughter from Russia to Florida, aiming to enroll her at the prestigious Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (now IMG Academy) in Bradenton. This pivotal move proved instrumental in shaping her illustrious career.
Throughout her journey, Sharapova clinched five Grand Slam titles, ascended to the summit of the World No. 1 ranking, secured an Olympic medal, and joined the exclusive cohort of only ten women to achieve the career Grand Slam.
Speaking on the ‘Served with Andy Roddick’ podcast, Eisenbud delved into the narrative of how he assumed the role of Sharapova’s agent. Commencing his tenure at IMG, a prominent global tennis management firm, in 1999, Eisenbud was initially slated to begin his career in Cleveland, Ohio.
However, a last-minute redirection by IMG rerouted him to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he encountered the budding talent of 11-year-old Maria Sharapova and her father, Yuri.
“It’s quite significant because I was set to launch my career in Cleveland, Ohio, with a place already rented. But about two weeks prior, IMG informed me, ‘We’d prefer you to head down to the IMG Academy. There are a bunch of young players there driving us crazy, constantly calling the agents, unhappy.’ That’s where I first met 11-year-old Maria Sharapova,” Eisenbud recounted.
Reflecting on his early interactions with the Sharapovas, Eisenbud acknowledged feeling “fortunate” for the opportunity to collaborate with the former World No. 1. He expressed gratitude that another individual wasn’t managing her career.
“I often share this anecdote that had they not transferred me to Bradenton, someone else would have been managing Sharapova’s career. So, that was certainly a stroke of luck,” he emphasized.
Eisenbud, a former college tennis player himself, extended invaluable support to Maria and her father, aiding with training sessions, visa applications, and travel arrangements. This collaborative effort flourished, prompting Yuri to reach out to Eisenbud’s office in Cleveland and enlist his services as his daughter’s agent.
This marked the inception of a fruitful professional partnership between Eisenbud and the Sharapovas.
“I was there when she was 11, still playing decent tennis. I would hit with her during practice sessions. They encountered various challenges, including visa complications, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time, facilitating minor tasks like hotel bookings and visa arrangements.
Sharing evening drinks with her father became customary, and before I knew it, he dialed Cleveland, declaring, ‘Max is my guy.’ That’s how it transpired for me,” Max Eisenbud recounted.
