In an exclusive talk with Pakistan Today, Aisam-ul-Haq shares his excitement about hosting Pakistan’s first-ever ATP Challenger Cup in Islamabad, set for November 24-30, 2025. With a prize pool of US$50,000 and 60 international players, Aisam highlights the event’s significance for local players and the future of tennis in Pakistan. He discusses the opportunities for young players to learn from global talent, the tournament’s potential to boost Pakistan’s tennis profile, and his vision for growing the sport with more international events in the years to come.
What does hosting Pakistan’s first ATP Challenger event mean to you personally and for the growth of tennis in the country?
Aisam-ul-Haq:
Personally, I feel extremely proud and excited about hosting Pakistan’s first ATP Challenger event. It’s a huge milestone for us. If you think about it, this event is as significant for tennis as an ICC event would be for cricket in Pakistan. The ATP is the highest governing body of tennis, and the fact that we’ve never hosted an ATP event before makes this moment incredibly special. It took years of hard work, negotiation, and effort to convince ATP management to hold this tournament here, and I’m thrilled that it’s finally happening.
This event will be monumental in terms of promoting tennis, supporting our players, and boosting their mindset. It’s going to inspire them to dream big. Having played on the ATP tour my whole career, it would be amazing to see fellow Pakistanis competing in this historic event.
How do you foresee this tournament benefiting young Pakistani players who will get to observe and compete alongside international athletes?
Aisam-ul-Haq:
This tournament will be an incredible opportunity for young Pakistani players and our national men’s players. For the first time, they’ll get to see professional international players up close and personal. They’ll have the chance to practice with them, watch them train, and learn from their habits. Having 60 international players competing here for an entire week is going to be a game-changer for our players.
This exposure will not only teach them the technical aspects but will also help foster a sense of professionalism, which I really hope to see more of in our players. The goal is to motivate and inspire them to aim for international tennis and compete at the global level. Some of our players might even make points, which will help them in the future. Ultimately, it will push them to train harder and adopt a more professional approach.
What aspects of the event are you most excited for visitors and players from abroad to experience in Pakistan?
Aisam-ul-Haq:
Honestly, I’m excited about every single aspect of this event. For many of the international players, this will be their first time in Pakistan. I’m really hoping they take back positive and pleasant memories. This tournament will be the last one of the year, so I want them to have the best experience possible, filled with positive feedback.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked hard to promote Pakistan’s image as a peaceful, loving country, and I want these players to experience just that. The hospitality, warmth, and love from our players, staff, and the general public will be something I’m excited for them to experience. I believe they’ll go home with fond memories of Pakistan, especially considering it’s the final tournament of the year. I am confident this event will leave a lasting, positive impression.
How is the PTF preparing to ensure smooth organisation and a positive experience for both local and international participants?
Aisam-ul-Haq:
We’ve been working very hard, even though the time frame is quite short. We only found out about a month ago that we’d be getting this tournament. Since then, we’ve been working day and night, handling PDF management, hiring a media team, a marketing team, and bringing in very professional people to collaborate with us. We have one more week to set everything up, and I’m in touch with ATP management on a daily basis, coordinating with their supervisors and media teams.
Inshallah, we’ll execute everything in the best way possible, and I hope this event will be a huge success. Moving forward, we aim to bring even more ATP Challenger events to Pakistan.
Looking ahead, how do you see this event contributing to the long-term development of tennis and future international tournaments in Pakistan?
Aisam-ul-Haq:
This tournament is going to open a lot of doors for international tennis in Pakistan. We’re already planning to have ITF professional future events and more challengers next year. We’ve also got seven ITF junior tournaments already sanctioned. The overall goal and vision is to build an international tennis calendar, surrounded by national tournaments, to create a good balance between the two.
We want to give our players a full calendar with opportunities to earn national and international points, along with prize money in dollars, which will allow them to make a living from tennis. My goal is to create a sustainable pathway for tennis players in Pakistan, where they can live off the sport, just like cricketers do.
The ATP Challenger event will also be a historic moment in itself, putting Pakistan on the ATP calendar map. Inshallah, in the years to come, I hope to not only have one challenger event but two or three, as well as more future events and junior tournaments throughout the year. This will keep our players engaged with international tennis, helping them develop their skills and become more professional.
Ultimately, I want our players to dream big, to know that they can compete with the very best in the world. That’s what my goal is, and with Allah’s blessings, we will achieve these things, InshAllah.
Before I conclude, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all the incredible sponsors who have made the ATP Challenger’s Cup 2025 possible. Their unwavering support has been instrumental in bringing this event to life, and I am truly honored to have such esteemed organizations backing this tournament. A special thanks to Pakistan Sports Board, the Bard Foundation, Fauji Cement, Askari Bank, PSO, Asia Insurance, Asia Green Energy, Tony & Guy, Munib Nawaz, Murree Brewery, Nets International, McDonald’s, Activit, De Court Cafe, Rehydrat8, Hum TV, Ten Sports, Myco, and Pakistan TV Sports. Their contributions not only ensure the success of this event but also help foster the growth of tennis in Pakistan and beyond.
The ATP Challenger Cup in Islamabad is a historic step for Pakistani tennis, paving the way for future growth and opportunities. Aisam-ul-Haq’s vision promises a bright future for the sport in the country.
