Teenaged Anisimova locks major deal with Nike

Amanda Anisimova turned 18 at the end of August, and in addition to becoming an adult this year, she's also now a marketing big-timer.

Courtesy Nike, Anisimova is now the proud custodian of a major deal, inking an undisclosed contract with the House of Swoosh that the New York Post reports is "worth in the Maria Sharapova neighborhood."

Sharapova herself is about to wrap an eight-year, $70 million contract with Nike at the end of 2019. Obviously the athletic-apparel giant thinks Anisimova is the future, and while talks with Sharapova are surely well underway as to a path forward, the Anisimova deal shows a sponsor sending a signal to her elder.

Sharapova, 32, lost a high-profile first-round showdown against Serena William at the U.S. Open and subsequently pulled out of a few events. She ended the year ranked No. 136, while Anisimova is presently perched at No. 24.

Anisimova's own season was punctuated by a surprise semifinal run at Roland Garros, which saw her upset Aryna Sabalenka and Simona Halep before dropping a three-set semi to future champion Ashleigh Barty.