Under the agreement, UNIQLO becomes the title sponsor of the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour and Wheelchair Doubles Masters, as well as an international sponsor of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters.

"It is great news for wheelchair tennis that a high profile global brand like UNIQLO has become the title sponsor of the Wheelchair Tennis Tour," said ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti.

"We have been impressed with UNIQLO's enthusiasm, creativity and vision, and we believe that they will be an outstanding partner for both the ITF and wheelchair tennis, one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports.

"We welcome their involvement and look forward to working with UNIQLO over the next three years."

The Wheelchair Tennis Tour is the backbone of the sport, holding more than 160 tournaments, including events at all four major Grand Slams, and offering more than $1.5 million (£880,000/€1.1 million) in prize money.

Wheelchair tennis world number one Shingo Kunieda of Japan and Serbia's Novak Djokovic are both ambassadors for the UNIQLO brand ©Getty Images



The Wheelchair Doubles Masters is the ITF's flagship event for doubles players.

Established in 2000, the season-ending tournament currently features the world's top eight men's pairs, top six women's pairs and top four quad pairs.

The 2014 edition of the event will take place in Mission Viejo, California from November 5 to 9.

Following today's announcement, Tadashi Yanai, chairman, President and chief executive of Fast Retailing, owners of the UNIQLO brand, said: "We are extremely pleased to have partnered with the International Tennis Federation as the title sponsor of the Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

"Shingo Kunieda, Japan's two-time Paralympic champion and wheelchair world number one, six-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and Japanese number one Kei Nishikori are already UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassadors, and we wish to use the sponsorship of the Wheelchair Tennis Tour to help increase the popularity of the sport worldwide."

The partnership is set to begin on Tuesday (June 24) at the BNP Paribas Open de France wheelchair tournament in Paris.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
June 2014: World number one Wagner urges young players to take up wheelchair tennis after training camp appearance
June 2014: Kunieda and Kamiji ensure double delight for Japan at French Open
June 2014: Houdet aiming for third straight title as French Open wheelchair tennis tournament begins
May 2014: Kunieda and Kamiji seal Japanese double at home Wheelchair Tennis Open
May 2014: Scheffers, Whiley and Lapthorne take Atlanta Open golds