The UNIQLO Interview: the rise of wheelchair tennis in Kazakhstan
Wheelchair tennis in Kazakhstan is being transformed, so much so that thoughts are now turning towards the nation being represented at the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
There is plenty of work to do before that dream is realised, although looking at the rate of progress fuelled by the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation in recent years, nothing should be deemed impossible.
Tennis in general across the world’s largest landlocked country has been on an upward trajectory for some time and wheelchair tennis has most certainly joined the party. But before going any further, it is worth recalling just how much success Kazakhstan has enjoyed of late.
Elena Rybakina’s 2022 Wimbledon triumph ensured the nation’s first Grand Slam champion, while Kazakhstan have also thrived in team competitions such as Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge and Davis Cup.
Again in 2022, Kazakhstan’s women qualified for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the first time, while their men have rubbed shoulders with the world’s best at Davis Cup Finals.
Kazakhstan have qualified for the junior equivalents of both competitions on four occasions since 2022, while their boys have also contested the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals – for teams in the 14-and-under age category. They qualified for the first time in 2022, finishing fourth, while in 2025 they finished 12th.
Indeed, in 2024 Kazakhstan had six players ranked within the Top 100 of the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Rankings, with one player – Amir Omarkhanov – in the Top 10 of the boys' rankings and another, Sonya Zhiyenbayeva, in the Top 20 of the girls' rankings.
The 2024 ITF Global Tennis Report also reflects the sport's growth. Compared to four years earlier, close to 36,000 more people are playing tennis across Kazakhstan, while the number of tennis clubs, coaches and courts have also dramatically increased.
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It is fair to say that wheelchair tennis is following suit. From no formal wheelchair tennis activity at all three years ago, the sport is now thriving in the participation space and is actively played by more than 150 people in 10 cities across Kazakhstan.
On the performance side, Aizhan Butimbayeva is currently ranked No. 93 in the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour women’s rankings, while Zhanat Umutkulova and Aishuak Zhetpissova have eyes on the Top 100.
In May and June, the KPMG Open was held and featured back-to-back events that formed part of the ITF Futures Series on the UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour – the first events of this nature in Central Asia, which attracted the participation of players from 11 nations.
Other sponsors, the likes of Kcell, Kinstellar and ForteBank, are now embedded within the sport, while the national association has been recognised by the National Paralympic Committee. In short, wheelchair tennis in Kazakhstan is flourishing and has momentum.
“We are all very proud about what has been achieved so far,” said Dave Miley, the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation’s Tennis Director.
“I knew early on that with the right structure we could do something special, but the way it has gone and the speed at which wheelchair tennis has grown across the country has been a surprise.
“But that is indicative of the drive and passion of our President, Bulat Utemeretov, and and the decision that he, along with the Government, took to build tennis centres across the country.
"That widened the scope and, from there, we were quickly able to set up specialised training for the best players. I know that that development of wheelchair tennis in Kazakhstan is very important to him.
“From the start, we had a destination we wanted to get to and it was an ambitious one. From the outset, we said we wanted to have players within the Top 100 and our team to be competing in Asia/Oceania World Team Cup qualifying within a few years.
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“We have achieved those aims and we are only three years down the road and now we are looking towards to the 2028 Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event in Los Angeles. That will be a tough ask but it’s our objective. In terms of being proud, yes we are very proud.”
Miley is keen to highlight the significant efforts of Ayana Sunchalieva and Sergey Selivanov of the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation as being instrumental in the continued rise of wheelchair tennis in Kazakhstan.
As Miley suggests, all such work is underpinned by Kazakhstan Tennis Federation President Bulat Utemuratov, who is a Vice President of the ITF having been elected for a third term during the ITF Board elections of 2023.
Another significant individual has been Mark Bullock, a prominent figure in inclusive sports development and recipient of the 2023 ITF Brad Parks Award, who was invited to Kazakhstan in 2022 to help launch the nation’s first wheelchair tennis programme.
Bullock’s visit coincided with Kazakhstan’s Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier with Germany in Nur-Sultan, which proved the perfect occasion to introduce wheelchair tennis to a wider audience and kickstart initiatives across the country.
ITF grants and support followed as the global governing body pursues its mission of ensuring tennis is for all, while at the same time providing a global pathway for talent to rise.
That support and pathway now sees the minds of people within Kazakhstani wheelchair tennis drift towards the 2028 Paralympic Games and the prospect of seeing their nation represented on a seismic stage.
It would be an incredible achievement for a national association that had no wheelchair tennis programmes until 2022, but those who have witnessed Paralympic Games of the past know that magic can be conjured.
“If you don’t have a destination then you can’t plan your journey,” added Miley. “Our destination and our goal is that we want to try and be at the Paralympic Games in 2028. Let’s see what happens.
“If we were successful and Kazakhstan is represented at a Paralympic Games, seeing individuals that they can relate to competing at such a level, that is the sort of thing that inspires a generation.
“If we had somebody at the Paralympics, people would see that and more people would turn to wheelchair tennis. After all, that is our goal and our dream – to continue growing wheelchair tennis across Kazakhstan and Central Asia.”
Best wishes, Kazakhstan. As we all know, dreams can and do come true.