Uzbekistan Plans to Bring Back ATP and WTA International Tennis Tournaments

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan is considering the return of international ATP and WTA tennis tournaments, according to Iroda Tulyaganova, former world No. 16 and Deputy Chairperson of the Tennis Federation of Uzbekistan, who spoke to Sport-Express.

Tulyaganova noted that organizing such tournaments remains a key goal of the federation, but the high costs of hosting events continue to be a major obstacle.

In the 1990s, the Tashkent Open, which played a significant role in Tulyaganova’s career, cost approximately US$500,000 per week to host. Initially a US$25,000 tournament, its development into an international event was closely linked to the support of national players.

“At that time, the Tashkent Open focused on the local player, so she could earn ranking points and participate in major tournaments without needing a wildcard,” Tulyaganova explained.

Today, supporting such a tournament for individual players has become more challenging due to a limited number of sponsors. “Previously, we could invest in the tournament; now we focus more on developing tennis infrastructure and youth sports,” she added.

Nonetheless, Tulyaganova emphasized that the federation is committed to bringing major international competitions back to Uzbekistan. She noted that obtaining ATP and WTA tournament licenses remains a complex process due to the limited number of events, but the federation will make every effort to achieve this goal. “We will try. I hope we succeed,” she said.

In 2025, the Uzbek national team featured Russian players Maria Timofeeva, Kamilla Rakhimova, Polina Kudermetova, and Alexandra Barmicheva in international competitions, highlighting the growing interest in supporting national tennis and developing tournaments at the international level.