US diplomat hails Pakistan's first W15 women's tennis tournament

United States Chargé d'Affaires Natalie Baker has praised Pakistan for hosting its first international women's tennis tournament at the W15 level, describing the event as a historic milestone for women's sports and an important opportunity to strengthen international relations through sports diplomacy. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Junaid Family Foundation (JFF) Women's W15 Futures Tournament in Islamabad on Saturday, Baker congratulated the organisers for bringing together 30 female players from 17 countries and territories'I was especially pleased to compete in Pakistan. to learn that this is the first women's tournament at this level ever held in Pakistan. That makes it a real milestone, and everyone who helped make this happen should be very proud,' Baker told players, officials and distinguished guests. 'The United States believes in the power of sports to teach teamwork, resilience, and the ability to build connections between our people and our countries. And those connections last long after the final point,' she said. Emphasising the importance of sports diplomacy in strengthening international relations, Baker expressed hope that more Pakistani athletes would compete at major international sporting events. 'As the United States prepares to host the Summer 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, we look forward to seeing more Pakistani athletes on the world stage,' she said. The senior American diplomat praised the competitive spirit, sportsmanship and warm Pakistani hospitality experienced by international players throughout the tournament. She thanked Pakistan Tennis Federation President Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Ansir and Sufia Junaid, and the Pakistan Tennis Federation for organising the championship. Baker also paid tribute to Qureshi's historic achievement at the 2010 US Open, where he reached two doubles finals and became the first Pakistani tennis player to contest a Grand Slam final. She praised his efforts to create opportunities for the next generation of Pakistani tennis players. The tournament was sponsored by the Junaid Family Foundation, led by Pakistani-American philanthropists Ansir and Sufia Junaid, as part of its broader commitment to women's empowerment, maternal health and education in Pakistan. French tennis player Astrid Cirotte won the women's singles championship, while China's Ru Xi Wu and Thailand's Kamonwan Yodpetch secured the women's doubles title.