Emma Raducanu is all set to follow in Roger Federer’s footsteps after leaving Nike to become a Uniqlo brand ambassador. What had long been touted as speculation has now been confirmed by the Japanese clothing company.
Raducanu had been a Nike-sponsored athlete since the start of her tennis career. But her partnership with the American brand is set to end, and she will mark the start of a new era with Uniqlo at Indian Wells.
Emma Raducanu Joins Roger Federer and Co. and Signs With Uniqlo
Uniqlo has quickly established itself as a big name in tennis, with the likes of Roger Federer, Kei Nishikori, and, previously, Novak Djokovic representing the brand. Raducanu joins an illustrious list of tennis stars in representing Uniqlo, and the new partnership will kick-start during the Sunshine Swing.
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Raducanu is one of the most popular tennis players in the world, with 2.9 million Instagram followers. The 23-year-old, who won the US Open in 2021, has also worked with brands such as Evian, Dior, and British Airways over the years.
Reports claim that Raducanu could receive an upfront bonus of $3.5 million for signing with Uniqlo. She is also expected to receive performance-related bonuses as part of a multi-year deal.
The exit of another popular player, Raducanu, is another blow for Nike, which has also lost the likes of Taylor Fritz, Lorenzo Musetti, and Jack Draper in recent years.
Federer became the first big name to leave Nike when he signed with Uniqlo in 2018. The Swiss maestro, who has 20 Grand Slam titles to his name, is still a brand ambassador for the company.
Raducanu’s Results So Far This Season
It has been a mixed season so far for Raducanu, who has one final and one quarterfinal to her name in addition to a number of early exits. The Brit began her 2026 with a run to the quarterfinals in Hobart, where she lost to Taylah Preston.
Raducanu was then stunned by Anastasia Potapova in straight sets in the second round of the Australian Open. She decided to part ways with her coach, Francisco Roig, in the wake of her early exit from the Grand Slam.
Raducanu found her form the very next week, reaching the final of the Transylvania Open, where she lost to Sorana Cîrstea 0-6,2-6. But she has endured a difficult Middle East Swing, suffering first-round eliminations at both the Qatar Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships.
As of this writing, her overall win/loss record for 2026 stands at 6-6.
