Fast Retailing Co., operator of the Uniqlo clothing chain and a sponsor of tennis player Kei Nishikori, has decided to give the star athlete a ¥100 million bonus following his historic run to the U.S. Open final, company officials said.
Half of the bonus will come from Fast Retailing Chairman Tadashi Yanai's private assets, they said Tuesday.
"We will offer (the bonus) for his great achievement," a company spokesperson said.
Although Nishikori lost to Marin Cilic in the U.S. Open final on Monday, he become the first Japanese to play in a Grand Slam singles final after defeating world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
The Uniqlo-brand tennis shirts that Nishikori wears during matches flew off store shelves as he advanced to the final.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to support them," Yanai said in a statement, referring to Nishikori and U.S. Open 2014 men's wheelchair tennis champion Shingo Kunieda, who the company also sponsors.