Roger Federer suffers another blow as Wimbledon star makes same announcement as Coco Gauff

Roger Federer’s management firm is experiencing significant changes with the recent departure of rising star Ben Shelton, who signed with WME. This shift may influence betting odds, as Shelton joins a talented roster including top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, potentially impacting his future performance and match outcomes for punters.

Roger Federer has had to contend with a second high-profile departure from his management firm after Ben Shelton announced his split from the Swiss icon's company. The tennis legend co-owns Team8 Management with his long-time agent Tony Godsick, with the pair founding the venture in 2013.

It was only in April when the 20-time Grand Slam winner had to say goodbye to now former client Coco Gauff as she departed the firm, with her American counterpart now following in her footsteps. Shelton - who'll be gearing up for Wimbledon later this month - was revealed to have signed with talent agency WME (William Morris Endeavour), who own IMG (International Management Group).

The firm have quite the stellar list of tennis stars on their roster, including the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Serena Williams, and Iga Swiatek. Shelton now joins the trio in their catalogue of athletes while Gauff, who was recently crowned French Open champion, founded her own venture, Coco Gauff Enterprises, which is backed by WME.

In her announcement of the new career move, the 21-year-old took to Instagram and wrote: "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. Taking this big step forward also means closing the incredible chapter I have shared with Team8. 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."

While Shelton is no longer represented by Team8, he remains sponsored by Swiss apparel company On Running, who boast Federer as a shareholder. It's been almost three years since the eight-time Wimbledon champion retired from the sport, but his influence is still being felt according to former French Open champion Michael Chang.

The American became the youngest man to win a singles major with his 1989 triumph at Roland Garros and the 53-year-old, who has coached Kei Nishikori since 2014, credited Federer and Rafael Nadal for their impact in changing the sport's culture in the locker room.

"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," he told CLAY and RG Media.

"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. 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."

Roger Federer has had to contend with another departure from his management firm following Coco Gauff's exit earlier this year.

Express