Uniqlo agrees lucrative sponsorship deal with Kei Nishikori ahead of Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Japan tennis star Kei Nishikori has signed a new endorsement deal with Uniqlo thought to be worth over £30m.
The Japanese No1 and world No8 has renewed his partnership with the clothing company from his home country to cover the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
According to reports, the deal will be worth in excess of $10m (£6.8m) a year.
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Since first teaming up with Nishikori in 2011, Uniqlo has seen Nishikori rise as high as No3 in the ATP world rankings and become the first Asian male to reach a Grand Slam final.
Now a consistent fixture in the world top 10, the 26-year-old is seen as being one of the home nation's faces of the 2020 Olympics and has further endorsements with Nissin, Wilson,Tag Heuer, Asahi, Jaguar, Proctor and Gamble, Japan Airlines and others – earning him $15m last year according to Forbes.
Tadashi Yanai, who is head of Uniqlo parent company Fast Retailing and Japan's richest man, said: "I have been impressed at how he has continued to evolve as a player, striving to be the world's best.
"His astounding advancement over the last few years has encouraged people in Japan and all over the world. We hope that he will continue to succeed in 2016."
As well as Nishikori and Djokovic, Uniqlo sponsors Major tournament-winning Australian golfer Adam Scott, world No1 men's wheelchair tennis player Shingo Kunieda and the ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour.
Fast Retailing opened 169 stores around the world last year as it focuses on expanding its global operations – a strategy that could be boosted from the enhanced visibility afforded by high profile celebrity endorsement deals.