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Maharashtra will host 20 ITF international tennis tournaments across districts under a new initiative by the state government and MSLTA. The events aim to boost grassroots development and help Indian players earn ranking points at home. The first tournament begins in Mumbai on March 15, followed by Nagpur and Sambhajinagar.

Mumbai: After successfully hosting major international events such as the ATP Tour 250, WTA 125, and PMR Challenger tournaments for the past five consecutive years, the Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, along with the ATP Organising Committee, has decided to expand tennis development directly to the district level in collaboration with the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA).

Present during the press conference were MSLTA President Mr. Prashant Sutar, Mr. Sunder Iyer, Hon Secretary MSLTA, Mr. Ashish Sharma (IAS), Chairman for the ITF Tournament Initiative and Mr. Shravan Hardikar (IAS), Managing Director, MMRDA and Secretary for the ITF tournament initiative.

Under this new initiative, a total of 20 international tournaments sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) - offering prize money of USD 15,000 and USD 25,000 - will be organised across various districts in the state. This initiative is expected to significantly boost tennis at the grassroots and district levels while providing Indian players with greater opportunities to earn valuable world ranking points and shine on the global stage.

Speaking on the occasion, MSLTA President Prashant Sutar stated, "This initiative marks the first significant step in my tenure as MSLTA President to ensure tennis is no longer confined to metropolitan cities but reaches rural and district-level players across Maharashtra. By hosting ITF tournaments on home soil, we want to give our players the right exposure and infrastructure without the financial burden of overseas travel."