Yonex has agreed to re-sign Stanislas Wawrinka to a deal that is the most lucrative contract in the Japanese company’s history.
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Wawrinka will earn nearly $20 million.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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The agreement, which covers sneakers, apparel and racket, stretches through 2018 and will pay Wawrinka nearly $20 million, a well-placed tennis source said. And while the value of a tennis deal typically depends on the player’s performance, at least in part, the source said the money in this deal is guaranteed.
Wawrinka has played with and worn Yonex the last four years. During that time, the Swiss player has emerged from his countryman Roger Federer’s shadow, overtaking him at one point in the worldwide rankings and winning the Australian Open this year for his first Grand Slam title.
Yonex is one of the few companies to offer both rackets and apparel to pros.
Wawrinka’s agency, StarWing Sports, declined to comment. Taka Hamaura, Yonex’s representative for European players, wrote in an email, “We cannot comment now, but we will confirm soon.”
The deal was awaiting signatures last week.
