In New York, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations Vepa Hajiyev held a meeting with David Haggerty, President of World Tennis (formerly the ITF). The meeting was also attended by Eziz Dovletov, Vice President of the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) and Chairman of the Turkmenistan Tennis Federation.

During the talks, the sides discussed in detail key areas for deepening their sports partnership. In particular, the participants focused on preparing a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, as well as exploring opportunities to expand professional exchanges between sports organizations. Particular attention was paid to the initiative to hold junior tournaments in Turkmenistan under the auspices of World Tennis starting in 2027, as well as to developing sports diplomacy within the framework of UN programs.

The Turkmenistan Tennis Federation has been a member of the relevant world governing body since 1993 and has also been a member of the Asian Tennis Federation since 2001. In recent years, cooperation has reached a new level, with regular training seminars for coaches, as well as children’s and junior competitions aimed at identifying young talents.

The partnership with international organizations has been reinforced by high-level recognition. In March 2024, David Haggerty, President of the International Tennis Federation (which was renamed World Tennis in June 2026), and Yuriy Polskiy, President of the ATF, visited Ashgabat, where they met with the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and presented the Head of State with an ITF Certificate in recognition of his contribution to the development of sport. In addition, the Tennis Complex at the Ashgabat Olympic Village was officially granted the status of a “Asian Regional Training Centre.”