Uniqlo Extends Sponsorship of ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour
January 19, 2022
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) and UNIQLO have announced that the clothing brand will continue its support of wheelchair tennis for a further three years, committing to a renewal of its title sponsorship agreement for the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour through 2024.
Under the agreement, UNIQLO will also continue to sponsor the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Masters and the World Team Cup. It will also remain official apparel supplier to tournament personnel. The UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour calendar encompasses at least 160 events in more than 40 countries each year. UNIQLO has been tour title sponsor since 2014.
Speaking of the announcement, ITF President, David Haggerty, said, “On behalf of the ITF and the entire wheelchair tennis community I would like to thank UNIQLO for their ongoing commitment to the sport. UNIQLO continues to invest in wheelchair tennis, supporting players and tournaments around the world.”
Tadashi Yanai, Chairman, President & CEO of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., commented, “We are delighted to have the continued honour of being title sponsor of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour. Professional wheelchair tennis players Shingo Kunieda and Gordon Reid have been UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassadors since 2009 and 2017, respectively. UNIQLO will continue to collaborate with those outstanding athletes and the ITF to help foster the development of para sport.”
World No. 1 and Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Shingo Kunieda welcomed the news, “I started competing in international wheelchair tennis tournaments exactly two decades ago this year. It has made me very happy as an athlete to see wheelchair tennis gain more and more attention. I believe UNIQLO’s support for wheelchair tennis over the years has done much to enhance the sport and competition levels. I will continue to work with UNIQLO to make wheelchair tennis even more exciting.”
Multiple Grand Slam champion and Paralympic medallist Gordon Reid remarked, “I am honoured to compete in the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour each year as a UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador. I will keep doing my very best to emphasise humanity’s possibilities and to inspire young people with disabilities, playing in front of as many people as I can.”