The first day was quite successful for Turkmen tennis players at the international tournament "Ashgabat Open 2024," which started in the Turkmen capital.
The competitions are held at the Tennis Complex of the Olympic Village. 63 athletes under the age of 14 are competing for the title of the strongest in singles and doubles categories. This group includes 35 boys and 28 girls from 12 countries: the United Kingdom, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
The competition began with the boys' qualification rounds, from which Gareth Lim Hao Zhe from Malaysia, as well as Rashid Aljemsi and Ali Saleh Al Ali Al-Ali (both from the UAE), advanced to the main draw.
Turkmenistan is represented by 20 boys and 22 girls in the tournament.
In the men's singles category among Turkmen athletes, those who advanced to the second round include: top seed Emirhan Rustamov, Yasin Faizullaev, Ilyas Mammetgulyev, Ali Geldiyev, Erkin Altyev, Kerimgeldi Velibegov, Alyryza Meredov, Yunus Annamyradov, Eyupbeg Atajanov, second seed Suleyman Khudaiberdiev, and Mukhammetsap Serdarov. Noteworthy victories include Yasin Faizullaev over David Selemnev (Uzbekistan) – 6:2, 6:4; Erkin Altyev over Nasriddin Mukhiddinov (Tajikistan) – 6:1, 6:2; Eyupbeg Atajanov over Shashi Shekhar (India) – 6:0, 6:0; Suleyman Khudaiberdiev over Muhammad Ermatov (Uzbekistan) – 6:1, 6:0; and Mukhammetsap Serdarov over Rashid Aljemsi (UAE) – 6:1, 6:1.
In the women's singles category, Turkmen tennis players who successfully passed the first round include: Leyli Esenova, Ksenia Sorokina, Safiya Tribunskaya, Selbi Altyeva, Sahra Garakhanova, Sulgun Ishankuliyeva, Imilia Kambarova, Anna Ponyatova and Aynur Atajanova. Notable results include Leyli Esenova's victory over Safiya Sharipova (Uzbekistan) – 7:6(3), 6:3; Ksenia Sorokina over Anna Conlon (United Kingdom) – 6:0, 6:2; Selbi Altyeva over Samira Vafayeva (Uzbekistan) – 6:0, 6:0; Sahra Garakhanova over Shayla Savah (Iran) – 6:1, 6:0; and Imilia Kambarova over Mahra Parnian (Iran) – 6:1, 6:0. The first four seeds—Ilima Guseynova, Aylara Kakabayeva, Aynur Annamyradova, and Nazli Khudaikuliyeva—also advanced to the second round as they were given a bye in the first round.
The competitions continue.
