Kei Nishikori is one of the prominent Japanese players currently on the ATP Tour circuit. (Zhe Ji/Getty Images)

Japanese streaming platform U-Next has snapped up rights to men’s tennis’ ATP Tour for the next five seasons.

Through an agreement unveiled earlier today, the platform becomes the exclusive home of ATP Tour action in Japan through 2029, with its subscribers now able to watch action at no extra charge.

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This is the first significant tennis deal struck by U-Next, which has been building up its sports rights portfolio over the last two years.

All tournaments from the ATP Masters1000, ATP500, and ATP250 series will be covered, as well as the season-ending ATP Finals and the Next Gen ATP Finals.

Prominent Japanese players currently on the ATP Tour include Kei Nishikori, Taro Daniel, and Yoshihito Nishioka.

ATP Tour action is currently covered in Japan – and has been for the last few years – by pay-TV broadcaster Wowow. The sole Japanese event on the ATP Tour 2024 schedule took place in Tokyo between September 25 and October 1.

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Elsewhere, in terms of Japanese tennis rights, the first grand slam event of the year – the Australian Open in January – will be shown live by Wowow.

In terms of recently announced ATP broadcast rights deals, earlier this month sports broadcasting heavyweight BeIN extended its Australian deal covering the tennis tour for the next three seasons.

Tenshin Tsutsumi, president and chief executive at U-Next, added: “U-Next has focused on golf, European soccer, and martial arts, and has strived to expand each sport as a place to support Japanese athletes who challenge the world, and to bring the world's best play to the people of Japan. Now, with the addition of the ATP Tour, we have an environment where tennis fans can enjoy the world's best play.”

U-Next currently has properties such as English soccer’s Premier League (until 2031), Spain's LaLiga, and mixed martial arts’ Professional Fighters League, amongst its rights stable.