OREANDA-NEWS. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced today that it has renewed its sponsorship agreement with NEC Corporation (NEC) as title sponsor of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters for an additional three year period for 2018 through 2020.

NEC will celebrate 25 years as title sponsor of the NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters in 2018.

The extension of the agreement also sees NEC Corporation continue as an International Sponsor of UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour events in a selected number of countries.

Last week, 22 players from 11 nations contested the official year-end singles championship for the sport's leading players as the 2017 NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters took place in Great Britain for the fourth year in a row, this year at a new host venue at Loughborough University.

The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Masters first took place in Netherlands in 1994 and currently features the top eight men and women, and top six quad players.

NEC celebrates 26 years of partnership with the ITF in 2017, having been title sponsor of the Wheelchair Tennis Tour from 1992 through to 2013.

Organized by the ITF, the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour originated in 1992 with 11 international tournaments, but has grown to its current total of over 150 tournaments in approximately 40 countries in 2017, offering over $2 million in prize money. The Tour includes the 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."

About NEC Corporation

NEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company's experience and global resources, NEC's advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society.