'Really big steps': the continued growth of tennis in the Maldives
Back in 2022, the ITF conducted its first official development visit to the Maldives during what was a hugely significant year for the archipelagic nation situated within the Indian Ocean.
Only weeks before ITF Development Officer Jonathan Stubbs set foot in capital city Malé, the nation had competed in Davis Cup – the largest and longest running men’s team event in sport – for the first time.
It was not the most auspicious start as the Maldives lost to Yemen although Ghassan Al-Ansi made history by chalking up his nation’s very first match-win in the men’s World Cup of Tennis.
The Maldives have defeated Bangladesh and Mongolia in recent years and will be hungry for more when they contest the latest batch of Asia/Oceania Group V ties in November.
A Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge debut was also forthcoming in 2022, with a maiden victory in the women’s World Cup of Tennis coming in 2023 as Layan Mohamed Shamin and Aaraa Aas aal Azim starred. November showdowns also await the nation's women.
At the time, Stubbs praised the Maldives for “making a statement” by entering two such iconic international competitions - and he was right. Players from the Maldives now have the opportunity to compete, not just individually, but for the pride of their nation.
The development of tennis is central to the ITF's mission to improve the game for future generations. To achieve this, the ITF reinvests 90 per cent of its income each year into growing the game in every region and for every age, ability and background.
Tennis has grown in the Maldives in many ways, exemplified in recent weeks by the nation making further history and hosting an ITF World Tennis Tour event – whether Men’s, Women’s or Juniors – for the first time. Two J30 events were hosted in late August.
Incidentally, the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors is set to exceed 1000 tournaments in 2025 for the first time, with J30s and J60s – entry-level events – accounting for approximately 75 per cent of the calendar.
Hosting events is crucial for nations in respect of international opportunity for homegrown players and promoting the sport. Stubbs supports this view, and also reveals the help given to the Tennis Association of the Maldives by the ITF.
“Hosting events is massively important for nations,” said Stubbs, the ITF’s Development Officer for South and East Asia. “There is a real appetite to grow the game in the Maldives and successfully staging two J30 tournaments is a really big step.
“Nations which host events provide their players with a high level of competition at home which saves on travel time and expenses, while their players play in familiar conditions. More events in a particular region is incredibly beneficial to players within that region.
“I would like to pay tribute to the Tennis Association of the Maldives for their professionalism during the staging of the two events, which saw a number of Maldivian players compete and sample ITF World Tennis Tour action on home soil.
“The Tennis Association of the Maldives has also invested in upgrading its National Tennis Centre facility in recent years, adding a practice court along with upgraded court surfaces and gym area.
“The ITF has also provided the Tennis Association of the Maldives with a Facility Grant to build a new tennis court on a local island, which is now part of the national association’s outreach and development programme.”
The latter point feeds into the launch in 2022 of an ITF Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI) programme within schools across the Maldives in order to capitalise on the sport’s popularity.
The JTI provides opportunities for children to pick up a racket for the first time and encourages them to play in locally organised competitions and sessions, with the most talented given pathways to progress.
Since the start of 2023, 1314 children have been introduced to tennis in the Maldives – 663 in 2023, 351 in 2024 and 300 so far in 2025. Of the 300 introduced to the game in 2025, 44 per cent are boys and 56 per cent girls.
Indeed, the 2024 ITF Global Tennis Report noted healthy increases in the Maldives in the number of people playing tennis, the number of courts - this was the most stark, 70 up from three - and the number of courts compared to 2019.
Stubbs also confirmed that the Tennis Association of the Maldives will soon be receiving acknowledgment through the ITF’s Recognition of Coach Education Systems.
The ITF’s Recognition of Coach Education Systems is the evaluation and approval of a national association’s education of coaches to ensure it meets minimum global standards. This is something else which began in 2022 and is a major step forward.
The ITF has six pillars of tennis development – performance, participation, education, facilities, events and administration and resources – with all six clearly demonstratable within the Maldives.
Here’s to a continued bright future.