ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) is all set to make history this year by hosting 10 international championships in the country.

According to a PTF spokesperson, Pakistan will hold four Asian Tennis Tour (ATT) Championships — two in Lahore and as many as in Islamabad.

These ATT Championships have recently been introduced in Asian Tennis circuit.

Each tournament for men's professional players will carry US $5,000 as prize money. Sponsorships for all the international events have been secured.

The first ATT Championship will be organised in Lahore from November 16 to 21 which will be followed by Hassan Tariq Memorial Asian Tennis Tour.

Third ATT event will be held at Islamabad as 'Serena Hotels Asian Tennis Tour'.

National Open Tennis Championships will run from December 12 to 18 and the last championship would be Benazir Shaheed Asian Tennis Tour.

The PTF spokesperson further told that players from 43 Asian countries, affiliated with the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF), are eligible to participate in these Asian ranking championships.

Four ITF Seniors World Ranking Tournaments will also be held in Pakistan this year during October and November. Two championships will be held in Karachi — Naveena ITF Seniors and Pakistan ITF Seniors — and two in Lahore, with title sponsors of Maple Leaf cement namely ITF World Ranking and Long Beach Pakistan ITF Seniors.

PTF has also organised two Asian Tennis Federations 14 and under Championships earlier in the month of March at Islamabad.

Negotiations are afoot for two more ITF Senior Championships - one to be held at Faisalabad and the other in Karachi.

“PTF hopes that these championships will also be added to the PTF Calendar in due course of time,” he said.