The Directorate of Sports and Youth Services in Maharashtra, in partnership with the ATP Organising Committee, has announced a new initiative aimed at enhancing tennis development at the district level. This follows the successful hosting of significant international events like the ATP Tour 250, WTA 125, and PMR Challenger tournaments over the past five years. The Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) is collaborating on this project, with key figures such as MSLTA President Prashant Sutar and other officials present at the press conference.

As part of this initiative, Maharashtra will host 20 international tournaments sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), featuring prize pools of USD 15,000 and USD 25,000. This move is anticipated to significantly enhance tennis at the grassroots level, providing Indian players with more opportunities to earn world ranking points and gain international recognition.

Prashant Sutar, the MSLTA President, emphasized that this initiative is a pivotal step towards making tennis accessible beyond metropolitan areas, reaching rural and district-level players. By organizing ITF tournaments locally, the aim is to provide players with essential exposure and infrastructure without the financial strain of traveling abroad.

The Maharashtra Government has issued a special Government Resolution (GR) through the Urban Development Department to support this initiative. Tournaments will be conducted in cities with existing tennis facilities or where new ones are planned. Funding will come from the 5% sports allocation in municipal budgets, supplemented by partnerships with local industries and institutions. District-level committees will be established to oversee the execution of these events.

Ashish Sharma (IAS) has been appointed as Chairman, and Shravan Hardikar (IAS) as Secretary for the ITF tournament initiative. Sharma stated that the collaboration with MSLTA aims to create a strong tennis ecosystem, enabling districts to host world-class events and nurture local talent. Hardikar added that alongside ITF events, All India-level junior tournaments will be organized to encourage youth participation in the sport.

This five-year plan underscores the Government's dedication to elevating Maharashtra's tennis profile globally. The inaugural tournament is set to take place in Mumbai at MSLTA from March 15 to 22, followed by events in Nagpur from March 22 to 29, and in Sambhajinagar from March 29 to April 5.