Rising star Zohaib stuns Russian opponent in McDonald’s Pakistan ITF M-15
Rising star Zohaib stuns Russian opponent in McDonald’s Pakistan ITF M-15
By Nawaz Gohar ; The PTF Tennis Complex in Islamabad witnessed a moment of brilliance on the second day of the McDonald’s Pakistan ITF Championship 2026 (ITF M-15 Leg-2), as rising local star Zohaib Afzal Malik delivered a major upset.
In a thrilling second-round qualifying match, Zohaib showcased immense composure and skill to overcome Russia’s Fedor Dorokhov, securing a hard-fought 6–4, 6–3 victory. This standout performance has cemented Zohaib’s reputation as one of Pakistan’s most exciting tennis prospects, drawing loud applause from local fans and marking a significant highlight in the early stages of the tournament.
The prestigious event, which has gathered 86 men’s players from 22 nations, is currently in its intense qualifying phase. The tournament serves as a global stage, featuring competitors from countries including Russia,
Uzbekistan, Sweden, Morocco, Malaysia, Great Britain, Italy, Lithuania, China, Turkey, Algeria, Canada, Ireland, Poland, Hong Kong, Greece, Lebanon, Germany, France, and Japan. Algerian athlete Samir Hamza Reguig, with an ATP ranking of 844, leads the field as the top seed.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) leadership has lauded the high level of competition on display. PTF President Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Secretary General Col. Zia-ud-din Tufail extended their best wishes to all participants, expressing their deep gratitude to the tournament sponsors for their pivotal role in hosting such a high-caliber international event in the capital.
The qualifying rounds have been a showcase of both local determination and international talent. In other notable results from the first round, Sarmad Ali Khan impressed with a 6–1, 6–1 win over Russia’s Grigory Maksimenko, while Ahmad Nael Qureshi fought past Great Britain’s Ned Smith, 7–5, 6–4. Other Pakistani players who advanced through the first round included Muhammad Huzaifa Khan,
Muhammad Hamza Aasim, Barkat Khan, and Mohammad Abid Ali Khan Akbar. International competitors also made their mark; Lebanon’s Giovani Samaha advanced after Adam Bajurko of Poland retired, and Great Britain’s Muhammad Abdullah dominated his match with a 6–0, 6–0 scoreline.
As the second round of qualifying concluded, the competition intensified. While Zohaib Afzal Malik grabbed the spotlight with his victory over Dorokhov, other international players also asserted their dominance. Uzbekistan’s Ilyos Abrorov and Abdulaziz Usmonjonov, Canada’s Adam Farag-Cao,
and Russia’s Makar Krivoshchekov and Alexey Dubinin all secured emphatic wins against their respective opponents. Meanwhile, Ireland’s Josh Roe Flannelly defeated China’s Xiuyuan Guo, and Uzbekistan’s Shokrukh Toshpulatov outlasted Muhammad Huzaifa Khan in a three-set thriller.
With the third round of qualifying currently in progress, the tournament is poised for its next phase. The main draw is scheduled to commence tomorrow at the PTF Tennis Complex, where the field of contenders will vie for the championship title, promising even higher stakes as the event progresses.
