Uniqlo extends backing of Wheelchair Tennis Tour

Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo has reached an agreement with the International Tennis Federation to extend its title sponsorship of the Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

The new five-year deal runs from 2017 to 2021 and will also see Uniqlo retain its position as the title sponsor of the season-ending Wheelchair Doubles Masters.

In addition, Uniqlo has been named as an official partner of the World Team Cup and the title sponsor of the Wheelchair Tennis Rankings.

Uniqlo chairman, president and chief executive Tadashi Yanai, said: “We have been committed to this sport for quite some time, having first appointed Shingo Kunieda (pictured) as a global brand ambassador in 2009.

“It has pleased me no end that the popular appeal of wheelchair tennis has surged worldwide in recent years. I hope that we can enrich the lives of people everywhere by supporting individuals with disability through our ongoing involvement in wheelchair tennis.”

The Wheelchair Tennis Tour was formed in 1992 and currently consists of more than 150 tournaments each year in over 40 countries. Uniqlo has title sponsored the Tour since 2014.