Max Eisenbud

{{Infobox person

| name = Max Eisenbud

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| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1972|04}}

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| occupation = Sports agent

| alma_mater = Purdue University

| years_active = 1999–present

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Max Eisenbud (born April 1972) is an American sports agent specializing in tennis. He is the vice president of tennis at IMG, a sports and entertainment management company. His clients include Madison Keys, Maria Sharapova, Li Na, Emma Raducanu, and Iga Świątek.

Early life and education

Eisenbud grew up in Short Hills, New Jersey, and played competitive tennis in his youth. He won three consecutive Group 2 state championships at Millburn High School from 1988 to 1990.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-item-of-millburn-and-short-hills-ten/143484769/|title=Netters top Holmdel for crown|date=June 2, 1988|page=12|newspaper=The Item of Millburn and Short Hills|via=Newspapers.com}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-item-of-millburn-and-short-hills-ten/143484736/|title=MHS reaches net final|page=1|date=June 1, 1989|newspaper=The Item of Millburn and Short Hills|via=Newspapers.com}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-item-of-millburn-and-short-hills-ten/143484611/|title=Netters cop third straight Group 2 title|newspaper=The Item of Millburn and Short Hills|date=May 31, 1990|page=11|via=Newspapers.com}} He played college tennis on a scholarship at Purdue University. He got his start in talent management in college as the social chairman of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, putting on parties and concerts.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-concert/143485744/|title=Top of the pops: Smithereens follow 'Blast on Wabash' at amphitheatre|last=Rahner|first=Mark|date=September 8, 1994|page=D1|newspaper=Journal & Courier|via=Newspapers.com}}

Career

Eisenbud worked for an entertainment company in Connecticut after graduation.{{cite news|url=https://digital.watkinsprinting.com/publication/?m=21948&i=126300&p=58&ver=html5|title=Max Eisenbud: Tennis titan makes his mark as sports agent to superstars|magazine=Purdue Alumnus|type=alumni newsletter|date=September–October 2012|access-date=March 16, 2024}} He helped put together a tennis charity event at the request of childhood friend Justin Gimelstob, an IMG client, which inspired him to want to become an agent for IMG. IMG hired him in 1999 to work at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Bradenton, Florida, where he dealt with day-to-day issues like securing racket sponsorships and satisfying parents of junior tennis players. His first signing was Romanian tennis player Horia Tecău.

Eisenbud met 11- or 12-year-old Russian player Maria Sharapova on his first day at the academy and began helping the family with visas and other issues, becoming her exclusive agent soon thereafter.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/sports/tennis/max-eisenbud-maria-sharapovas-agent-builds-her-brand.html|title=Dealmaker for the Shotmakers|last=Lattman|first=Peter|date=August 26, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 16, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/01/sports/tennis/img-tournament-tennis-teens.html|title=Are the Next Global Tennis Stars Among These Tweens?|last=Futterman|first=Matthew|date=May 1, 2022|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 16, 2024}} Sharapova has called Eisenbud "half family, half agent". He held out on committing to small sponsorship deals as Sharapova progressed on the ITF Junior Circuit, receiving more lucrative offers after she broke through to win the first of her five major titles at the 2004 Wimbledon Championships at age 17.{{cite news|url=https://adage.com/article/special-report-marketing-50/maria-sharapova/105115|title=Maria Sharapova|last=Thomaselli|first=Rich|date=November 7, 2005|magazine=Ad Age|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240316193522/https://adage.com/article/special-report-marketing-50/maria-sharapova/105115|archive-date=March 16, 2024}} He took advice from Mark Steinberg, Tiger Woods's agent, to mark a calendar with the few days a year that would not interfere with tournaments when Sharapova could be available for photoshoots and other brand commitments.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/01/sport/tennis/maria-sharapova-eisenbud-tennis/index.html|title=Maximizing 'Brand Sharapova': The man behind Maria's millions|last=Morley|first=Greg|date=May 1, 2013|publisher=CNN|access-date=March 16, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.sellingpower.com/2010/02/02/7606/winner-takes-all-2|title=Winner Takes All|last=Gschwandtner|first=Lisa|date=February 2, 2010|magazine=Selling Power|access-date=March 16, 2024}} Motorola, Canon, TAG Heuer, Colgate, Land Rover, Nike, and other contracts made her the world's highest-paid female athlete for 11 consecutive years from 2005 to 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/tennis/2015/08/12/maria-sharapova-forbes-magazine-highest-paid-female-athlete|title=Forbes: Sharapova is highest-paid female athlete for 11th straight year|date=August 12, 2015|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=March 16, 2024}} Eisenbud was the chief executive officer of Sugarpova, a candy company founded by Sharapova in 2012. He claimed responsibility for Sharapova's doping violation in 2016, saying he had overlooked WADA's update that banned meldonium because he had cancelled the annual vacation when he said he usually checked updates to the banned substances list.{{cite news|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/maria-sharapova-agent-blamed-his-divorce-for-failed-drug-test-2016-6|title=Mara Sharapova's agent blamed his divorce and a canceled Caribbean vacation for not telling Sharapova the drug she was taking was banned|last=Knowlton|first=Emmett|date=June 8, 2016|website=Business Insider|access-date=March 16, 2024}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/08/maria-sharapova--drugs-in-sport-tennis|title=Tribunal verdict shreds Maria Sharapova defence|last=Gibson|first=Owen|date=June 8, 2016|newspaper=The Guardian|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

Eisenbud signed Chinese player Li Na in 2009. Over offers from Chinese brands, he negotiated an apparel deal for her with Nike that allowed her to wear sponsor patches, something not approved by Nike for any other tennis player.{{cite news|url=https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/tiger-woods-inspired-maria-sharapova-s-brand-strategy-reveals-agent-max-eisenbud-on-andy-roddick-s-served-podcast|title=Tiger Woods inspired Maria Sharapova's brand strategy, reveals agent Max Eisenbud on Andy Roddick's 'Served' podcast|last=Davidov|first=Liya|date=February 27, 2024|website=Tennis.com|access-date=March 16, 2024}} He signed various large deals for Li after she became the first Asian player to win a major title at the 2011 French Open. After winning the 2014 Australian Open, Li said in her victory speech: "Max. Agent. Make me rich. Thanks a lot".{{cite news|url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/meet-max-eisenbud--the-man-who-helps-tennis-stars-blossom-003123126-tennis.html|title=Meet Max Eisenbud, the man who helps tennis stars blossom|last=Kiat|first=Teng|date=October 28, 2015|publisher=Yahoo! Singapore|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

{{As of|2015}}, Eisenbud's other clients on the WTA Tour included Madison Keys, Laura Robson, and Ajla Tomljanović. He has represented British player Emma Raducanu at least since the 2021 Wimbledon Championships where she reached the fourth round.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/05/starmaker-behind-maria-sharapova-turn-emma-raducanu-global-sensation/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20211127025404/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/05/starmaker-behind-maria-sharapova-turn-emma-raducanu-global-sensation/|date=July 5, 2021|newspaper=The Telegraph|archive-date=November 27, 2021|last=Morgan|first=Tom|title=Emma Raducanu bows out at Wimbledon but still has three million reasons to smile}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/07/sports/tennis/emma-raducanu-indian-wells.html|title=Emma Raducanu, After U.S. Open Win, Keeps Her Feet on the Ground|last=Clarey|first=Christopher|author-link=Christopher Clarey|date=October 7, 2021|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 16, 2024}} He began representing world No. 1 Iga Świątek after her 2022 season.{{cite web |url=https://www.tennismajors.com/wta-tour-news/swiatek-on-business-and-bold-choices-i-want-to-use-my-impact-well-in-a-way-that-is-healthy-for-me-659319.html |title=Swiatek on business and bold choices: 'I want to use my impact well in a way that is healthy for me' |date=8 February 2023 |last=Bouchard |first=Carole |work=Tennis Majors|access-date=18 March 2023|archive-date=18 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318182909/https://www.tennismajors.com/wta-tour-news/swiatek-on-business-and-bold-choices-i-want-to-use-my-impact-well-in-a-way-that-is-healthy-for-me-659319.html|url-status=live}}

Personal life

Eisenbud lives in Miami, Florida. He married his wife, Danielle, in 2006, and has two children.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/fashion/weddings/08gilbert.html|title=Danielle Gilbert, Max Eisenbud|date=October 8, 2006|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=March 16, 2024}}

Max Eisenbud

Early life and education

Career

Personal life

References

Further reading