Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) President Aisam-ul-Haq has announced that Pakistan will host its first-ever ATP Challenger event later this month, marking a major milestone in the nation’s sporting history. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Aisam-ul-Haq said the tournament will be held from November 24 in Islamabad — a proud moment that will help promote Pakistan’s soft image globally. He emphasized that after cricket, tennis has become the second sport attracting the highest number of foreign players to Pakistan.
Highlighting the importance of international exposure, Aisam-ul-Haq stated that every Pakistani has a role to play in projecting the country’s positive image worldwide. He expressed gratitude to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi for his support in promoting tennis, confirming that the long-standing lease issue of the PTF Tennis Complex has also been resolved.
The PTF President shared that junior players are being actively promoted, with young talents like Mikhail Ali Baig and Shayan Afridi showing exceptional performance. Shayan has qualified for the Under-12 main round, while Mikhail has advanced to the Under-16 main round. Aisam-ul-Haq said these young players represent a bright future for Pakistani tennis, adding that the federation is hopeful of seeing them participate in Grand Slam tournaments soon.
He further revealed that Pakistan hosted five international tournaments this year and sent twelve teams abroad for various competitions. Next year, seven ITF events are planned, along with the launch of Pakistan’s first tennis league. Aisam-ul-Haq concluded that 2026 will be a remarkable and action-packed year for tennis in Pakistan, with equal focus on developing women’s tennis at all levels.