The Serena Tennis Masters Cup, Pakistan’s first-ever Ramadan tennis tournament, is currently in full swing in the Federal capital Islamabad.  Featuring the country's top eight players, all matches are being played at night to accommodate the holy month of Ramadan. The highly anticipated final match is set to take place on Wednesday night, March 26, with a total prize money of Rs 1 million to be distributed among the winners. 

President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), Esam-ul-Haq Qureshi, expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament while speaking to INP. He highlighted that for the first time, international coaches are training Pakistani players, marking a significant step forward for tennis in the country. Qureshi emphasized Serena’s vital role in promoting tennis in Pakistan and reiterated the Federation’s commitment to making tennis the second most popular sport in the country, after cricket. 

Looking ahead, Qureshi revealed ambitious plans for the national tennis team. The team is set to practice in Turkey before heading to Paraguay for the Davis Cup. Additionally, preparations are underway for the Islamic Games later this year, further strengthening Pakistan’s presence on the international tennis scene. He also underscored the importance of promoting women's tennis in Pakistan.

To support this, the Tennis Federation has launched its own YouTube channel to live-stream matches and has established a Women’s Tennis Association to encourage young girls to take up the sport. He acknowledged the media’s full cooperation in boosting the visibility of tennis in the country and stressed the need to discover and nurture Pakistan’s abundant tennis talent. With such initiatives in place, the Pakistan Tennis Federation is determined to bring more gold medals home and elevate the sport’s status in the country.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)