Shoaib creates history after almost 20 years; Storms into ITF Futures final
*Abid and Muzammil clinch doubles title at M-15 Islamabad
Shoaib creates history after almost 20 years; Storms into ITF Futures final
*Abid and Muzammil clinch doubles title at M-15 Islamabad
By Nawaz Gohar ; Pakistan’s rising star Muhammad Shoaib has reached the final of the Flair Travel ITF Men’s Futures M-15 (Leg-1) Islamabad – becoming the first Pakistani in 20 years to achieve this remarkable feat in an ITF Futures event.
In a dominant semifinal, Shoaib outclassed China’s Fenming Meng with an emphatic 6-1, 6-1 victory. Displaying exceptional skill, confidence, and composure, Shoaib thrilled the home crowd and marched into the final in style, marking a proud moment for Pakistan tennis.
Adding to the celebrations, Pakistan’s duo Muhammad Abid Ali Khan Akbar and Muzammil Murtaza captured the doubles title after 9 years in an exciting all-Pakistani final. They defeated the experienced pair of Aqeel Khan and Barkatullah with a score of 6-2, 2-6, 10-7 to clinch the championship. Their victory highlights the growing depth and strength of Pakistan’s doubles circuit.
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President PTF, along with Col.Zia-ud-din Tufail -Secretary General and the entire PTF management, congratulated Shoaib, Abid, and Muzammil on their outstanding achievements.
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, said: “This is a truly historic and proud moment for Pakistan tennis. Seeing a Pakistani player reach an ITF Futures final after 30 years is something very special, not just for the player but for the entire nation. We are proud to be hosting international tournaments in Pakistan, and it is extremely encouraging to witness our players rising to the occasion and delivering outstanding performances on home soil.
He further elaborated on the vision behind hosting international events: The core idea of bringing international tournaments to Pakistan is to provide our players with the opportunity to compete at home, gain valuable ATP ranking points, and smoothly transition into the professional ATP circuit. It is very satisfying to see that this vision is now becoming a reality, as our players are performing impressively and steadily improving their rankings.
The PTF president also praised the doubles champions, adding: The doubles title victory by Abid and Muzammil is a great honour for Pakistan. Their success is a reflection of their dedication, teamwork, and the continuous hard work being put in by our players.
Expressing his satisfaction over the overall standard of play in Leg-1, he concluded: We remain fully committed to organizing more international tournaments in Pakistan.
With increased exposure, competitive opportunities, and the right support system, our players will continue to grow, gain confidence, and achieve even greater success on the international stage in the years to come.
On the second Semifinal, Nikita Ianin (RUS) bt Arvid Nordquist (SWE) 6-4, 6-4. The men’s singles final will be played on 3rd May 2026, between Muhammad Shaoib (PAK) and Nikita Ianin (RUS) at 12 PM.
