The ITF announced today that it has renewed its sponsorship agreement with NEC Corporation as title sponsor of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters, the ITF’s year-end wheelchair singles championship, for an additional three-year period from 2018 through 2020. NEC will celebrate 25 years as title sponsor in 2018.
The extension of the agreement also sees NEC Corporation continue as an International Partner of UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour events in key markets.
The 2017 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters took place last week in Loughborough, Great Britain, featuring 22 players from 11 nations. First held in Netherlands in 1994, the season-ending event features the top eight men and women, and top six quad players.
NEC marks 26 years of partnership with ITF wheelchair tennis in 2017, having been a sponsor of the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour since its inception in 1992. The Tour originated with 11 international tournaments, but has grown to its current total of over 150 tournaments in around 40 countries in 2017, offering over $2 million in prize money. This includes wheelchair tennis events at all four Grand Slam tournaments.
ITF President David Haggerty said: “We are very grateful for the continued support of NEC Corporation, which has been a loyal and hardworking partner of the ITF’s wheelchair tennis activities for more than 25 years. Its commitment and enthusiasm has helped wheelchair tennis become one of the fastest growing Paralympic sports. We are delighted that NEC is continuing its title sponsorship of such a prestigious event and we look forward to celebrating 25 years of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in 2018.”
Mr. Takashi Niino, President and CEO, NEC Corporation said: “NEC is proud to be sponsor of the Wheelchair Tennis Masters as the event provides an exciting venue for the sport’s most gifted athletes to showcase their talents. NEC has been a part of the wheelchair tennis community since the sport’s early development and we look forward to continuing our involvement well into the future.”
(Source: ITF)