ISLAMABAD, May 04 (APP): The McDonald’s Pakistan ITF Championship 2026 (ITF M-15 Leg-2) commenced on Monday at the PTF Tennis Complex, drawing significant international participation and setting the stage for competitive tennis action.
A total of 86 male players from 22 countries are competing in the prestigious tournament. Participants hail from Pakistan, Kuwait, Russia, Uzbekistan, Sweden, Morocco, Malaysia, Great Britain, Italy, Lithuania, China, Turkey, Algeria, Canada, Ireland, Poland, Hong Kong, Greece, Lebanon, Germany, France, and Japan.Top seed Samir Hamza Reguig of Algeria, currently ranked 844 in the ATP standings, leads the field in this leg of the championship.President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, along with Secretary General Col. Zia-ud-din Tufail, conveyed their best wishes to all players. They also appreciated the sponsors for their support in successfully organizing the event.
In the Men’s Singles Qualifying first round, several Pakistani players delivered strong performances. Sarmad Ali Khan defeated Russia’s Grigory Maksimenko 6–1, 6–1, while Ahmad Nael Qureshi overcame Britain’s Ned Smith 7–5, 6–4. Other notable wins included Muhammad Huzaifa Khan, Muhammad Hamza Aasim, and Barkat Khan, all registering convincing victories.The second round of qualifiers saw tougher competition. Zohaib Afzal Malik and Muhammad Talha Khan emerged as standout Pakistani performers, securing wins against their respective opponents.
However, several local players faced defeats against strong international contenders from Russia, Uzbekistan, and Canada.The third round of qualifying matches is currently underway, while the main draw is scheduled to begin on Tuesday at the same venue.The tournament continues to highlight Pakistan’s growing presence on the international tennis circuit, offering local players valuable exposure against global talent.
