The questions surrounding Emma Raducanu’s sponsorship as she arrives in Australia

Emma Raducanu arrived in Perth to compete at the United Cup, joining Great Britain’s preparations ahead of her debut in the mixed-team tournament. The Brit’s first practice session in Australia saw her wearing Nike apparel—amid growing rumors of a potential sponsorship switch to Uniqlo—although a change in her racquet was already noticeable.

The 2021 US Open champion arrives full of confidence for her first-ever United Cup appearance. This time, however, the much-anticipated partnership with Jack Draper will not happen. The 2025 Indian Wells champion was forced to withdraw from the entire Australian swing due to injury and has been replaced by Billy Harris.

Over the past month, rumors have intensified regarding a possible brand change for Raducanu, who has been sponsored by Nike since 2021. Speculation suggests she could follow in Roger Federer’s footsteps by moving to Uniqlo, a brand that already counts Kei Nishikori among its ambassadors.

Raducanu’s contract with Nike is reportedly worth around €100,000 per year, with the company supplying her full on-court kit—including clothing, shoes, and accessories—even before her breakthrough US Open title. However, The Craig Shapiro Tennis Podcast recently brought the potential switch to Uniqlo into the public spotlight.

Despite the rumors, Raducanu was still seen training in full Nike gear during her first session in Perth. This could indicate that her agreement with the American sportswear giant runs through the end of 2025, meaning fans may need to wait until her United Cup debut—or the early days of 2026—to see whether the deal is finalized or if she remains with Nike.

What did come as a surprise, however, was a change in her racquet sponsorship. The 23-year-old has traditionally played with Wilson, but she appeared in training using a Yonex racquet, confirming at least a switch in racquet sponsor for the former world No. 10.

The expected timing for Raducanu’s potential brand change points toward the start of 2026, and the fact that the year has not yet begun could explain why she continues to wear Nike apparel in practice. The first days of the new season—especially her United Cup debut—should provide clarity on the next commercial step in Raducanu’s career.

The former US Open champion will take to the court for the first time on January 4 in Perth, facing four-time major champion Naomi Osaka in Great Britain’s tie against Japan. The following day, January 5, the British team will meet Greece, with Raducanu set to face former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari.

Raducanu faces a busy start to the season. After the United Cup, she will travel directly to the Hobart International, where she will be the second seed—behind Elise Mertens—and one of six Top 40 players in the draw. The tournament will serve as preparation for the Australian Open, where Raducanu will be seeded for the first time since 2022.

The Brit begins the year with an important mission, as she defends the ranking points earned from reaching the third round in Melbourne last season. During that run, she defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova before falling to world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the third round (1-6, 0-6). This time, Raducanu is guaranteed to avoid Top 30 opponents until at least a potential third-round match.