“All tour competitors are very grateful to UNIQLO for supporting wheelchair tennis, whose tournaments have grown in stature in the past few years.”

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that Japanese retail chain UNIQLO has extended its sponsorship of the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour through to 2021.

The agreement with the ITF also stipulates that UNIQLO will continue sponsoring the year-end UNIQLO Wheelchair Doubles Masters and will become an official partner of the BNP Paribas World Team Cup and title sponsor of the Wheelchair Tennis Rankings.

The UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour started in 1992 with 11 tournaments, and now consists of more than 150 annually in over 40 countries, with UNIQLO becoming title sponsor of the Tour in 2014. The global UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Rankings are published every week for men, women and quads.

ITF President David Haggerty said: “It is very gratifying for all of us at the ITF who care passionately about wheelchair tennis to see a brand like UNIQLO not only extend but expand its role in the sport.

“Wheelchair tennis is one of the most successful disability sports with growing audiences around the world for these outstanding athletes and, with UNIQLO’s support and that of the other sponsors of wheelchair tennis, the ITF can continue its work in this important area.”

Japanese three-time wheelchair tennis Paralympic gold medallist Shingo Kunieda added: “As an athlete, and as a UNIQLO Global Brand Ambassador, I am honoured to take part in the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour.

“All tour competitors are very grateful to UNIQLO for supporting wheelchair tennis, whose tournaments have grown in stature in the past few years. I will continue to do my best to boost the sport's status.”

UNIQLO Chairman, President and CEO Tadashi Yanai said: “I am delighted to extend the title sponsorship agreement for the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour. We have been committed to this sport for quite some time, having first appointed Shingo Kunieda 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.”

More information can be found on the International Tennis Federation’s website.