Tennis, though not a sport of the masses in Pakistan, has garnered a dedicated following, both for international and national stars. Despite its limited reach, the sport has cultivated a passionate fan base, driven by the achievements of a few remarkable players over the years.

In the early days following Pakistan’s independence, tennis players struggled to gain the prominence enjoyed by their cricket and hockey counterparts. However, their contributions were noteworthy, especially considering the limited resources and facilities available during the country’s formative years.

Ahmad Hasan Khokhar was the first Pakistani to represent the nation in a Grand Slam tournament — Wimbledon in 1948. He paved the way for such players as Haroon Rahim, who became the youngest national singles champion and the youngest player to represent Pakistan in the Davis Cup at just 15.

Haroon was not only a top-ranked singles player but also a winner of several ATP singles and doubles titles. Other notable players from that era were Munir Pirzada, Qutbuddin Ahmed, Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmed, Zulfiqar Rahim, Khwaja Saeed Hai, Saeed Meer, and Muhammad Naeem Mir, who all made significant contributions to the sport in Pakistan.

Under the leadership of individuals like Col Munir, Lt Gen (retd) Talat Masood, Kaleem Imam, and Salim Saifullah, the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) saw the sport progress slowly but steadily. Despite these efforts, tennis in Pakistan never quite flourished to international standards. However, the country did produce a few successful players, although none reached the top echelons of world rankings.

The early 1980s saw a promising crop of players, including Rashid Ahmed Malik, Hameed ul Haq, Inam ul Haq, Islam ul Haq, Mushaf Zia, Haseeb Aslam, and Muhammad Khaliq. These athletes represented Pakistan in the Davis Cup with commendable results. In 1984, Pakistan qualified for the final of the Eastern Zone by defeating strong teams like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand but fell short against Japan in the final.

In recent years, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan have been the torchbearers for Pakistan on the international stage, while Ushna Sohail and Sarah Mahboob Khan have been standout among women players. Nosheeh Ehtesham was also a leading player in the past. Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi made history for Pakistan by reaching the finals of the 2010 US Open in both men’s doubles and mixed doubles, a feat that remains unparalleled in Pakistani tennis.

Historically, tennis in Pakistan has been concentrated in a few cities, mainly Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi. The limited geographical reach of the sport, coupled with a lack of competitions, has hindered the development of tennis. This has prevented Pakistan from emerging as a nation capable of competing with even average tennis-playing countries.

Moreover, only a few organisers are actively working to promote and develop tennis in Pakistan. The Punjab Lawn Tennis Association (PLTA), under the leadership of former Davis Cup player and Senior Executive Vice President Rashid Malik has been at the forefront, organising a record number of national and provincial tournaments throughout the year. Malik, a renowned tennis coach, has been instrumental in nurturing young talent in Lahore.

Muhammad Khalid, another dedicated coach in Lahore, continues to produce promising players for the country.

In Karachi, Khalid Rehmani, Vice President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation and President of the Karachi Tennis Association, has played a pivotal role in promoting tennis. He has not only organised national and provincial tournaments but also introduced wheelchair tennis in Pakistan. His efforts have enabled Pakistani wheelchair tennis players to represent the country in international events.

In Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the sport has been sustained by the Haq brothers Inam, Hameed and Islam, whose father late Siraj-ul-Haq was an All-India Tennis Champion and a key figure in the development of tennis in Pakistan. Siraj’s contributions laid the foundation for Pakistan tennis, and his legacy lives on through the Haq brothers, particularly Hameed, who became Pakistan’s oldest Davis Cup player and the first male tennis player to receive the Presidential Pride of Performance award.

Mushaf Zia, another stalwart of Pakistani tennis, also served the country with distinction, representing Pakistan in various Davis Cup events and other international tournaments. He later captained the Pakistan Davis Cup team multiple times.

Mahboob Khan, a coach based in Islamabad, has produced several talented players, including Sarah Mahboob Khan, who has represented Pakistan in numerous international tournaments, including the Fed Cup (now known as the Billie Jean King Cup).

Aisam has taken the reins of the Pakistan Tennis Federation as its President. Leveraging his extensive contacts within the International Tennis Federation (ITF), Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), Asian Tennis Federation (ATF), and other global bodies, Aisam is working to strengthen Pakistan’s ties with these organisations and secure better international opportunities for Pakistani players.

Recently, an ATP representative visited Pakistan to assess the country’s potential to host ATP-level tournaments, with hopes that such events will commence in February or March next year. Pakistan is already hosting ITF and ATF junior tournaments and is set to host the ITF Masters at the end of this year.

There is optimism that under Aisam’s leadership Pakistan tennis will improve, especially at the junior level. However, the national team’s future remains uncertain, particularly in finding replacements for Aisam and Aqeel, who have long carried the nation’s hopes in Davis Cup ties. Without strong successors, Pakistan may face further demotions in the Davis Cup rankings.

Nonetheless, Pakistan’s junior tennis players are showing promise at the ATF and ITF levels. With the right support from the government and the corporate sector, these young talents could emerge as future stars, representing Pakistan in Grand Slam events. Without adequate backing, their potential may remain unrealised, and Pakistan’s presence on the international tennis circuit could continue to diminish.