Tokyo to host 2016 BNP Paribas World Team Cup

Shingo Kunieda could be one of Japan's wheelchair tennis stars set to compete in Tokyo next year ©Getty Images

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) have revealed that Tokyo will host the 2016 BNP Paribas World Team Cup, with their flagship wheelchair tennis team event now set to be held in Japan for the first time.

Hosted by the Japanese Tennis Association (JTA), competition is due to take place from May 23 to 28 at the Ariake Colosseum, the venue for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic wheelchair tennis competitions, while it has also regularly held Davis and Fed Cup matches.

It will be the 31st running of the tournament which was first held in California in 1985 and is set to be only be the second time the World Team Cup has visited Asia, when South Korea were the hosts in 2012.

The announcement follows the conclusion of the 2015 edition of the World Team Cup, with Britain earning the men’s title, The Netherlands the women’s crown and the United States won the quad title in Antalya, Turkey.

“The ITF is delighted that the BNP Paribas World Team Cup will be staged in Japan for the first time,” said Francesco Ricci Bitti, the ITF President.

“Japan has a long tradition of wheelchair tennis and has produced some of the sport’s most recognisable stars.

“The World Team Cup is the most prestigious team competition on the ITF’s wheelchair tennis calendar, and we are pleased to see its continued growth.”

The Ariake Colosseum is set to host the tournament ©Getty Images

Japan are seen to have a long history in wheelchair tennis having introduced the first programme for the sport in 1984 and now boast leading players such as current ITF Wheelchair World Champions Shingo Kunieda and Yui Kamiji.

Their quad team reached the final of the 2015 World Team Cup but eventually fell to defeat against America.

Nao Kawatei, chairman of the JTA International Committee, believes that four years out from hosting the Paralympics the tournament provides the perfect opportunity for the players to show off their ability.

“We are very pleased to host the BNP Paribas World Team Cup in Tokyo,” he said.

“The JTA works closely with the Japan Wheelchair Tennis Association and our Japanese players, and we are very proud to see their successful results.

“Japan is a long-time supporter of ITF wheelchair tennis, and the World Team Cup will provide a chance to showcase the players’ talents before the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.”

The tournament is due to be the last under the BNP Paribas a five-year agreement with the ITF, which started in 2012, allowing the company to be the title sponsor of the Team World Cup in addition to sponsorship of Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Junior Davis Cup and Fed Cup events.