Roger Federer's management company has suffered another significant blow with the departure of American tennis star Ben Shelton, marking the second high-profile exit from Team8 Management in recent months.
The Swiss tennis legend's firm, which he co-founded with long-time agent Tony Godsick in 2013, previously lost Coco Gauff in April when the French Open champion left to establish her own venture.
Shelton has now followed suit by signing with talent agency WME, the parent company of IMG. The agency represents an impressive roster of tennis stars including Carlos Alcaraz, Serena Williams and Iga Swiatek.
The departures represent a challenging period for Federer's management venture, which has lost two prominent American talents in quick succession - with the latest coming just weeks before Wimbledon.
Roger Federer pictured at Wimbledon last year
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Gauff's departure saw her establish Coco Gauff Enterprises, a new venture backed by WME that she announced would focus on business, philanthropy and activities beyond tennis.
The 21-year-old shared the news on Instagram, writing: "Today I'm thrilled to announce the launch of Coco Gauff Enterprises, a venture that reflects my passion for making an impact - not just in tennis, but in business, philanthropy, and beyond."
She expressed gratitude towards her former management, adding: "I'll always be grateful for everything they've done for me and my family, and I know I'll look back on that time with deep appreciation and fond memories."
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Roger Federer's management company has suffered another significant blow with the departure of American tennis star Ben Shelton, marking the second high-profile exit from Team8 Management in recent months
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Both American stars have now aligned themselves with WME's extensive network.
Despite leaving Team8, Shelton maintains a connection to Federer's business interests through his sponsorship deal with Swiss apparel company On Running, where the 20-time Grand Slam winner serves as a shareholder.
The departures come nearly three years after Federer's retirement from professional tennis, yet his influence on the sport continues to resonate.
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Former French Open champion Michael Chang recently highlighted the lasting impact Federer has had on tennis culture, particularly in transforming the atmosphere within locker rooms.
Chang, who became the youngest male singles Grand Slam winner at Roland Garros in 1989 and has coached Kei Nishikori since 2014, praised how Federer and Rafael Nadal revolutionised player interactions off court.
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"Federer and Nadal changed the culture in the locker room, to be honest with you. The generation that we followed was very competitive, didn't really talk to each other," Chang told CLAY and RG Media.
He elaborated on their approach: "Roger, Rafa and even Novak, they changed the culture very much so in the locker room. On the court, it's business. You want to play as hard as you can. But off the court, those guys were kind to everybody.
Roger Federer won eight Wimbledon titles during his glittering career
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"Whether you are the ranked No. 2 in the world or whether you are the 100th-ranked guy in doubles, they treated you the same.
"I think that has carried on through this generation. Because they have respect for everybody."
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