Emma Raducanu Praises "Humble" Shohei Ohtani Following Landmark Uniqlo Global Ambassador Deal

Tennis star Emma Raducanu praises MLB MVP Shohei Ohtani after signing with Uniqlo, as she prepares for Indian Wells and the Miami Open.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 26, 2026, 9:02 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from GRV Media / Tennis Home

A New Global Partnership

Emma Raducanu has officially joined the ranks of tennis royalty by signing with Japanese apparel giant Uniqlo. By transitioning from Nike to Uniqlo, Raducanu follows the path blazed by Roger Federer. During her unveiling as a "Global Ambassador" in Japan, the 23-year-old took the opportunity to engage with Japanese culture and address her admiration for the country's most iconic sporting export, Shohei Ohtani. Raducanu noted that beyond his staggering athletic achievements, she was most impressed by how the Los Angeles Dodgers star interacts with others off the field.

Admiration for a Two-Way Legend

Raducanu’s praise comes as Ohtani continues to rewrite the baseball history books. Now 31, Ohtani is a four-time MLB MVP and back-to-back World Series champion. Raducanu highlighted his record-breaking brilliance—referencing his historic 50-home run, 50-stolen base season in 2024 and his Dodgers-record 55 home runs in a single year. "He's very down to earth," Raducanu remarked, noting that Ohtani’s humility despite his global superstar status is a quality she finds particularly "impressive."

Gearing Up for the Sunshine Double

On the court, Raducanu is looking to bounce back from recent opening-round exits in Qatar and Dubai. Her next destination is the United States for the high-profile WTA 1000 events: Indian Wells and the Miami Open. Raducanu enters Indian Wells as the 25th seed, desperate to improve on her 2025 performance where she suffered an early loss to Moyuka Uchijima. The "Sunshine Double" represents a crucial swing for the Brit as she aims to climb back up the rankings.