Emma Raducanu offered fans a first glimpse of her new chapter this week, stepping onto the practice courts at Indian Wells dressed head to toe in Uniqlo apparel.
The 2021 U.S. Open champion was captured in a clip circulating on X as she fine-tuned her groundstrokes under the California sun, marking the first time she has been publicly seen training in the Japanese brand’s kit.
Emma Raducanu Launches Uniqlo Era, Training in New Gear Ahead of Indian Wells
Raducanu’s appearance in Uniqlo gear comes just days after she was officially announced as a Global Brand Ambassador for the company, ending her long-standing relationship with Nike. Since her breakthrough triumph at the 2021 U.S. Open, Raducanu has been one of the most commercially sought-after players in the sport.
Her partnership with Nike dated back to her teenage years, making the transition particularly symbolic. By joining Uniqlo, she became the first female tennis player to be named to the brand’s elite group of global ambassadors, a roster that includes Roger Federer and Kei Nishikori, both of whom have maintained prominent associations with the company for years.
The collaboration is built around Uniqlo’s “LifeWear” philosophy, which combines performance-driven design with everyday comfort. She is expected to work closely with the brand’s design team to shape her on-court outfits so they meet her technical needs while reflecting her personal style.
Financially, the agreement reportedly carries an annual value of about $3.5 million, a figure that exceeds estimates of her previous apparel deal. Her official competition debut in Uniqlo attire is scheduled for the Indian Wells Open in March 2026, but the practice session offered an early preview.
A clip of Raducanu training in her new Uniqlo kit surfaced on X just days before the tournament’s main draw in Indian Wells. In the short video, she was seen striking clean groundstrokes under the desert sun. Notably, while she wore Uniqlo clothing during the session, she paired it with Nike trainers, a subtle reminder of the transition period between endorsements.
Emma Raducanu’s practice session in Indian Wells
wearing Uniqlo merch for the first time pic.twitter.com/oE0rmWua2R
— 🦖 (@RamoFootball) February 28, 2026
How Has Raducanu Performed in Her Past Indian Wells Appearances?
Raducanu’s record at Indian Wells has progressed step by step. She debuted in 2021, losing in the second round to Aliaksandra Sasnovich. In 2022, she claimed her first win at the event against Caroline Garcia before falling to Petra Martić in the third round.
Her best result came in 2023, when she reached the fourth round with victories over Magda Linette and Beatriz Haddad Maia, before losing to world No. 1 Iga Świątek.
After a third-round loss to Aryna Sabalenka in her 2024 comeback season and a first-round exit to Moyuka Uchijima in 2025, Raducanu returns in 2026 ranked back inside the top 25.
