Tennis is an odd sport at times, where tournaments can often limit access and operate as a closed shop to the media.
It might seem biased, but to me, this comes across as counterproductive and only sacrifices the free opportunity to put more eyes on their event.
The Almaty Open could not have been more refreshing in its approach over the last week, as we were afforded the opportunity to speak with Dias Doskarayev, the Vice-President of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation, ahead of its flagship event in the country.
Although only an ATP 250 event at the back end of the season, this has attracted some of the world’s biggest names in recent years, and once again boasted a strong player list this time around as well.
How would you feel if Novak Djokovic got a wildcard to the ATP Finals?
Is there any changes you’d make to the current qualification system?
Over the past few days, Tennishead asked Daniil Medvedev for his thoughts on Alexander Zverev becoming the world number one, and Stefanos Tsitsipas about Gael Monfils’ retirement.
And then, in another exclusive, we gained crucial insight into the future of the Almaty Open in our chat with Doskarayev.
Kazakhstan tennis chief discusses his future plans for the Almaty Open
Unsurprisingly, when it came to his aspirations for the future, Doskarayev outlined how a strong player list remains the priority.
After all, attracting the biggest names represents a glowing endorsement for the tournament, attracts more fans, and increases the stature of the event.
He admitted: “Our main goal is to assemble an interesting and competitive field every year, and we would like to continue attracting as many strong and exciting tennis players as possible to the tournament, including young players who could become new stars of world tennis in the future.
“At the same time, we are looking to the tournament’s long-term development, with one of our key ambitions being to upgrade the Almaty Open to ATP 500 status.”
It is no mean feat to achieve such an upgrade, but the Almaty Open is certainly going about it the right way.
Although an indoor event, the tournament is famed for its phenomenal surroundings, with the city boasting a stunning urban skyline framed by towering snow-capped peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountain range.
Doskarayev actually then revealed that he is already in dialogue with the ATP to make this dream a reality, but admitted there will be hurdles to overcome: “We are in discussions with the ATP and exploring options for securing the necessary licence. However, opportunities remain limited due to the ATP’s calendar restructuring, with some licences already allocated. Nevertheless, we remain committed to pursuing this goal in the coming years.
“In the meantime, we are focused on ensuring that the tournament is fully prepared for this step. The Almaty Open already exceeds the minimum ATP 250 requirements in infrastructure, technical provision, player conditions, logistics and spectator experience. Our aim is to be among the leading events in the ATP 500 category from the outset.”
The 2026 Almaty Open’s strong roster and history of great players
Doskarayev’s ambition is hugely admirable, but it is far from delusional.
After all, when asked to name a dream player he would love to welcome to Almaty, he instead opted to list the many superstars who have already graced the courts. These dreams have already become a reality for him.
He added: “In 2022 we had Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andrey Rublev, and Daniil Medvedev. Around seven players from the world top 10 took part in the tournament that year.
| Player | World Ranking | Seed |
| Daniil Medvedev | 6 | 1 |
| Luciano Darderi | 21 | 2 |
| Alexander Bublik | 22 | 3 |
| Andrey Rublev | 23 | 4 |
| Karen Khachanov | 27 | 5 |
| Tomás Martín Etcheverry | 31 | 6 |
| Stefanos Tsitsipas | 43 | 7 |
| Thiago Agustín Tirante | 54 | 8 |
“Karen Khachanov, Flavio Cobolli, and Luciano Darderi have also come to our tournament. It is very important to us that as many Kazakhstani players as possible compete in the Almaty Open. Our main goal is to assemble an interesting and competitive field every year.”
Alexander Bublik was, of course, the standout draw for the home fans.
Sadly, the Kazakhstani superstar was forced to retire from his semi-final match with the eventual champion Medvedev, and he exited the Centre Court to a great reception.
Doskarayev finished by discussing this year’s player list, which was once again laden with world-class talent.
Speaking before the tournament had begun, he claimed: ”As for the most exciting players in the current tournament, it is also difficult to single out just one. For example, Adrian Mannarino, who comes to the Almaty Open regularly, always plays well here and enjoys our courts.”
The Vice President also mentioned Tsitsipas, whose level has only been improving, as well as singling out Rei Sakamoto as a ‘very interesting and promising young player’.
Naturally, Doskarayev was most excited to see Bublik, noting: “Of course, Alexander Bublik remains one of the most exciting entrants. The Kazakhstani public adores him, and fans have been waiting a very long time for the chance to see him on the courts in Almaty.”
