Pakistan to stage two major tennis tournaments

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has announced that Pakistan will host two ITF W15,000 Women’s Futures tournaments in Islamabad from October 5, 2026, ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup.

According to the federation, it will be the first time the country stages two consecutive ITF W15,000 Women’s Futures events, a development it described as another landmark for tennis in Pakistan. The PTF said the move reflects its efforts to promote women’s tennis and create opportunities for local players to compete internationally on home courts.

PTF president Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi said the federation had already created strong opportunities for male players through ITF Men’s Futures events and was now extending similar support to women players. He said the October tournaments would allow Pakistani female players to earn ranking points and gain international exposure without leaving the country.

In a statement, Qureshi said the tournaments would also reduce the burden of travel expenses for Pakistan’s leading women players and help them prepare for the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup. Players expected to benefit from the initiative include Ushna Suhail, Mahin Aftab, Soha Ali, Romaisa Malik, Bismal Zia, Meheq Khokhar, Zunaisha Noor, Zainab Ali Raja, Fatima Ali Raja and Laibah Durab, along with other emerging players.

The federation also highlighted the role of the Pakistan Women’s Tennis Association, which was set up in 2024 by the PTF president and continues to support the development of women’s tennis in the country.

Asma Khawar Khawaja, president of the Pakistan Women Tennis Association, said the W15,000 tournaments would strengthen Pakistan’s standing in international tennis and reflect the federation’s work to develop women’s tennis and support future players. PTF Secretary General Col Zia-ud-Din Tufail also described the hosting of back-to-back W15,000 events as a significant achievement, saying it would give players greater international exposure at home.