American tennis player Ben Shelton has left William Morris Endeavor to join the boutique agency Starwing Sports. The move comes one year after he signed with WME. Maria Sakkari, a longtime Starwing client, defended the firm against criticism of its practices.
Shelton, the world No. 5, will now be represented by Starwing Sports CEO Lawrence Frankopan. The 23-year-old American announced the change ahead of the Wimbledon Championships.
Journalist Jessica Schiffer reported the switch on social media and noted that Starwing has faced criticism for overpaying clients upfront without consistent delivery. Jannik Sinner left the agency in 2025 after five years.
Sakkari, who has worked with Starwing for more than a decade, called the criticism baseless. She said the firm helped build one of the strongest brands in tennis with Sinner and that it delivers for its clients.
Schiffer replied that she had heard directly from players who later regretted signing with the agency. Shelton said he was excited to join Starwing at an important stage of his career.
