Competitions in the doubles category have started at the ongoing international tennis tournament "Ashgabat Open 2024" for boys and girls under 14 years old, held in the Turkmen capital.
In the boys' doubles, 16 pairs are competing fiercely for the title. Three matches were particularly notable, with two ending in surprising results. In the first match, top seeds Suleyman Khudayberdiyev and Emirhan Rustamov unexpectedly lost in a super tie-break to their lower-ranked compatriots Nazar Amangeldiyev and Kerimgeldi Velibegov.
Initially, there was no hint of an upset as Khudayberdiyev and Rustamov confidently won the first set 6-2. However, they relaxed in the second set and lost 1-6. The match was decided in a super tie-break, which Amangeldiyev and Velibegov won 10-5, advancing to the quarterfinals.
The second sensation occurred when third seeds Keymir Annaev and Ilyas Memmetgulyyev surprisingly lost easily to the Malaysian duo Gareth Lim Hao Zhe and Jacob Wong, with a score of 1-6, 1-6.
Following the Malaysians, an international duo of Seyran Delakov (Turkmenistan) and Muhammad Ermatov (Uzbekistan) showed great determination by defeating Efe Daniel Akar (Turkey) and Guvanch Dovletov (Turkmenistan) in a hard-fought match 7-6(3), 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals.
Also advancing to the quarterfinals are Turkmen pairs Yunus Annamyradov and Ali Geldiyev (seeded second), Begenchgeldi Khummetov and Govshut Soyunov, Eyupbeg Atajanov and Alyryza Meredov, as well as international duos Rashid Aljesmi (UAE) and Ayman Hammudeh (Jordan), and fourth seeds Yaroslav Bobrov (Kazakhstan) and Muhammetsapa Serdarov (Turkmenistan).
In the girls' doubles category, where 14 pairs are competing for prizes, there were no major surprises. The top two seeded pairs from Turkmenistan—Ilima Guseynova/Aylara Kakabaeva and Aynur Annamyradova/Nazli Khudaykuliyeva—advanced to the quarterfinals without playing due to a favorable draw. However, others had to work hard to progress to the next round. By the end of the day, spots in the next round were earned by Turkmen pairs Aynur Agamyradova and Jennet Orazalieva (seeded fourth), Selbi Altyeva and Imilia Kambarova, Leyli Esenova and Anna Ponyatova, Victoria Kurbaeva and Myakhri Mammedova, Iranian players Mahra Parnian and Shayla Savah, and third-seeded international duo Sulgun Ishankuliyeva (Turkmenistan) and Safiya Sharipova (Uzbekistan).
The international tournament "Ashgabat Open 2024" is being held at the Tennis Complex of the Olympic Village with participants from 12 countries: Great Britain, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
