The first ITF Futures Series wheelchair tennis tournament in Astana

Astana is hosting the first of two ITF Futures Series tournaments in wheelchair tennis, a unique event for the entire Central Asian region. The tournament became not only a sports arena for competitions, but also an important step in the development of inclusive sports, drawing attention to the topic of equal opportunities for all athletes. Representatives from 11 countries took part in the competition: the USA, Japan, Australia, France, South Korea, India, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. For several days, spectators were able to watch the intense matches on the courts.

The prize winners of the first tournament are as follows:
Men’s Singles:
Champion: Yoshinobu Fujimoto (Japan) — marched up confident play and consistency throughout the event.
Finalist: Martin Dunn (Australia) — lost in the final but marched up excellent tennis, especially in the quarterfinals and semifinals.
Women’s Singles:
Champion: Victoria Lvova (Russia) — marched up impressive technique and tactical skills to secure victory in the final.
Finalist: Lyudmila Bubnova (Belarus) — put up a strong fight in the final but was defeated in straight sets.
Men's doubles:
Champions- Fujimoto Yoshinobu / Ji Hwan Lee (Japan / South Korea) - a well-coordinated pair, who marched up a high level of interaction on the court.
Finalists - Martin Dunn / Tachi Tomoya (Australia / Japan) - lost in a tough fight.
Women's doubles:
Champions - Victoria Lvova / Amina Mangutova (Russia / Russia) - beat their opponents, showing excellent mutual understanding and attacking play.
Finalists - Aizhan Butimbayeva / Pak Ju-Young (Kazakhstan / South Korea) - for the first time in the history of the country, a Kazakhstan athlete reached the final of the ITF Futures Series tournament.

Aizhan Butimbayeva's success deserves special attention: she became the first Kazakhstan wheelchair tennis player to reach the final of a prestigious international tournament. This result is especially important for the popularization of wheelchair tennis in Kazakhstan.

The tournament was organized by the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation with the support of  KPMG as a main sponsor. For Kazakhstan and Central Asia, this was the first event of this level in the history of wheelchair tennis, emphasizing the country's commitment to the principles of inclusion, support for equal opportunities and the development of sports for all. The tournament not only gave athletes a chance to improve their rankings and win medals but also demonstrated to the world the region’s readiness to host international competitions.

According to representatives of the Tennis Federation of Kazakhstan, this is only the first step towards the further development of wheelchair tennis and the creation of an accessible sports environment for everyone. The organizers note the high level of play, the friendly atmosphere between the participants and the support of the spectators. The second tournament of the ITF Futures Series is ahead, which starts today and promises to be no less spectacular.