Uzbekistan plans to host international tennis tournaments under the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) again, on a permanent basis, according to the Sept. 21 presidential decree.
Under the document, a system of regular international ATP, WTA and International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments will be implemented in Uzbekistan from Oct. 1, 2026. The costs of organizing the events and paying prize money are to be covered by donations.
The country will also host the Uzbekistan Cup for juniors and adults, national championships for juniors, teenagers and adults, the Uzbekistan Open international tournament and a men's ATP Challenger event on a permanent basis.
Uzbekistan has hosted top-tier professional events before. The men's ATP President's Cup was held in Tashkent from 1997 to 2002, and no ATP Tour event has been staged in the capital since. The women's WTA Tashkent Open ran from 1999 to 2019, with the final tournament played Sept. 23-28, 2019. Since 2020, its slot on the WTA calendar has been taken by a tournament in Lyon.
Uzbekistan has also hosted ITF events over the years. A W15-level tournament was scheduled for Tashkent in March 2026 but was canceled.
Tennis in schools
From Jan. 1, 2027, the Juniors Tennis Initiative will be launched in general education schools. Introductory sessions to boost interest in tennis will be held during physical education classes for students in grades 1-4.
Schools will be selected for the program based on student interest and available infrastructure. Tennis sections will be set up there, facilities will be upgraded and equipment, including tennis training walls, will be installed. The Uzbekistan Tennis Federation will cover the costs.
Classes will be taught by coaches brought in from sports schools near the selected institutions.
The federation will also be given management of the Republican Olympic Reserve Tennis School. Within two months, the school is to recruit foreign specialists and coaches, and from 2027 it is expected to host international ITF events.
Goal: a top-five place in Asia
By 2030, the authorities plan to increase the number of regular tennis players to 3,000 and the number of coaches to 200.
Another stated goal is for Uzbekistan to enter Asia's top five tennis nations and to add the sport to the list of priority sports.
Some courts to become self-financing
From Jan. 1, 2027, tennis courts at sports and educational institutions that are able to offer paid services will be switched to self-financing. The institutions themselves will set prices.
Revenue is to go first toward utility costs, and sports organizations may use the remainder at their discretion.
Courts whose income does not cover their costs and that need renovation may be handed to private investors under public-private partnerships. Existing training groups must continue to be offered free of charge.
By Jan. 1, 2027, the authorities must inventory state-owned tennis courts and draw up a list of facilities that could be transferred to investors.
Budget funds saved through the shift to self-financing will be directed toward providing players with vitamins, equipment and other necessities.
The decree also sets cash rewards for winners and medalists at the Asian Games and Para Asian Games. Athletes will receive $25,000 for gold, $12,500 for silver and $6,250 for bronze. Coaches will receive $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500, respectively.
