CHICAGO, November 30, 2015 – Wilson Sporting Goods Co., and Kei Nishikori announced today a long-term extension to their partnership. Nishikori, the highest ranked Asian tennis player of all time and currently #8 ATP ranked, will now swing with rackets carrying the iconic Wilson “W” for the entirety of his professional tennis career.
“Kei is electrifying to watch, and he embodies all the exciting attributes of the modern tennis player – speed, agility, power, and pure athleticism,” said Hans-Martin Reh, General Manager of Wilson Racquet Sports. “Our partnership with Kei is one of great respect, collaboration and trust, and we are excited that he will continue to be a vital member of our Advisory Staff for many years to come.”
“Wilson has been by my side since I was a young junior, supporting my game, my career and my dreams,” said Nishikori. “Their commitment to me has been incredible. I have been working with the Wilson Tour Team and Wilson Labs group to continuously improve my racket, and I am proud that any tennis player in the world can benefit from that work through the BURN racket line.”
Nishikori became the first Asian player to reach a Grand Slam final in singles at the 2014 US Open. In 2015, he has climbed as high as #4 in the world rankings. Nishikori is currently ranked #1 in Japan and #8 in the world. He plays with the Wilson BURN racket, strung with Luxilon 4G 125 or Wilson Natural Gut 16 strings.
Wilson Labs developed the BURN racket line specifically for performance tennis players seeking a racket that accelerates power from the baseline. A key feature of the racket is its long X2 Shaft, a longer handle that allows for increased feel and leverage on two-handed backhands, and an optimal shaft shape to enable quick grip changes for extreme grips.
