14-year-old Turkmen tennis player Ali Geldiyev has made a major breakthrough on the international stage. Following the results of the representative regional qualifying tournament of the Roland Garros Junior Series, which concluded in Kazakhstan, the young athlete entered the top six strongest players in Western and Central Asia. This result became another remarkable achievement in the rapidly developing career of the rising star of Russian tennis.
The prestigious competition took place on the clay courts of the famous «Gorky Tennis Park» club in Almaty. 16 of the strongest of the region juniors under 16 years of age from Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan competed for two coveted spots in the final round of the Asian qualifiers. In the first stage, the participants were divided into four quartets, where an uncompromising battle for a place in the playoffs unfolded.
Turkmenistan was represented at this tournament for the first time by Ali Geldiyev, a 10th-grade student from the Young olympians training school, thanks to his high international and Asian rankings. Being one or two years younger than most of his opponents, Ali not only did not get lost among the more experienced favourites, but showed a mature, uncompromising game, writing a new page in the history of the national sport.
In the opening match of Group «A», Geldiyev, despite discomfort in his leg muscles that arose at the decisive moment, gave battle to the first seeded Rodion Traigel from Kazakhstan, losing to him only in the third set tie-break – 3:6, 6:2, 5:10. In the second match, our compatriot showed character and beat the 7th seed of the tournament, Beksulton Voksidov from Uzbekistan – 7:6 (1), 6:0, and in the final match, he left no chance for another Uzbek tennis player, Don Sung Kim, crushing him with a score of 6:0, 6:1.
Having finished second in his group, Ali achieved a historic milestone – he advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament. At this stage, he faced eighth-seeded Kiarash Sadegizaidi of Iran, who ultimately went on to win the tournament. After giving the eventual champion a tough fight, Geldiyev ultimately lost 2-6, 5-7.
In the subsequent bracket for 5th-8th places, the Turkmen junior demonstrated excellent physical preparation and a fighting spirit. He confidently defeated Hamidjon Mansurov of Uzbekistan 6:2, 6:3 and lost to Dias Tulepbergenov of Kazakhstan 4:6, 0:6.
Ultimately, the 14-year-old debutant finished a lofty 6th among the 16 best young tennis players of the region. This result was not only a personal triumph for Ali but also convincing proof of the rapid progress of the Turkmen tennis school. Advancing to the playoffs of such a prestigious tournament against older athletes opens up brilliant prospects for Geldiyev – he retains the right to participate in the Roland Garros Junior Series qualifiers next year, already boasting extensive competitive experience.
Ali took his first steps in the world of tennis at CYSS № 9 in Turkmenabat under the guidance of his first coach, Babamurat Mamatrasulov. Today, his talent and skill are being honed at the «Ashgabat» Tennis Academy under the watchful guidance of Yuriy Rogusskiy and Meylis Orazmuhammedov.
It is worth remembering that May of this year already marked a historic achievement for Ali Geldiyev: at the age of 14, he became the men's champion of Turkmenistan for the first time, setting an absolute national record. His recent success on the courts of Almaty has proven that this young athlete is ready to confidently conquer new international heights.
The successful debut of A. Geldiyev also opens new horizons for the entire team. Next year, the Turkmenistan Tennis Federation hopes that the country will be represented at the Roland Garros Junior Series qualifying tournament with a larger team. International and Asian ranking holders Nazli Hudaygulyyeva and Suleyman Hudayberdiyev are already seriously vying for the coveted tickets.
