Haier Bosphorus Challenger Cup Begins in Istanbul
The Haier Bosphorus Challenger Cup, organized by the Turkish Tennis Federation (TTF) and featured on the ATP Challenger Tour calendar, is being held at the TTF Istanbul Tennis Training Center between May 18–23, 2026.
The event, which features 74 athletes from 26 countries, brings the world's rising male tennis players together in Istanbul and aims to further strengthen Türkiye’s position in international tennis organizations.
Organized at the ATP Challenger Tour level, the tournament provides a top-tier competitive environment for the athletes while making a significant contribution to the international visibility of Turkish tennis and Istanbul’s identity as a global sports destination.
The press conference for the tournament was held on May 20, 2026, at the TTF Istanbul Tennis Training Center. The press conference was attended by Turkish Tennis Federation President Ms. Şafak Müderrisgil, Haier Europe General Manager for Türkiye, Southern Europe, and Emerging Markets, Gözde Küçükyılmaz, Türkiye İş Bankası Deputy Director General Suat Sözen, Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv Automobile Sales and Marketing Director Dr. Nadine Adam, Acıbadem Sports Sponsorships Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çağrı İlk, Tournament Director Melis Yafe, and national tennis player Mert Alkaya.
“The international journey of Turkish tennis continues by growing stronger”
Turkish Tennis Federation President Ms. Şafak Müderrisgil emphasized that Türkiye has been an important country hosting ATP and ATP Challenger organizations for many years, sharing the following evaluations:
"The Istanbul Challenger tradition, which began in 1946, still continues today as one of the most deep-rooted Challenger organizations in the world. This event, which was included in the ATP Challenger Tour calendar in the 1980s, has become one of the most vital building blocks of Turkish tennis’s international journey.
Furthermore, we held our place on the ATP Tour calendar with the ATP 250 level Istanbul Open organized between 2015–2018, and the Antalya Open events realized in 2017–2019 and 2021.
Organizations such as the İzmir Cup held between 2008–2017, the Eskişehir Cup in 2013 and 2015, the Batman Cup and Ağrı Challenger in 2015, as well as the Challenger series in Antalya, have also contributed significantly to the growth of Turkish tennis across different cities over the years.
In particular, organizing four consecutive ATP Challenger tournaments in Antalya in 2021 and the Megasaray Hotels Open in 2023 made Türkiye's organizational strength at the Challenger level even more visible on an international scale.
As of 2026, we are also highly delighted that three major ATP Challenger organizations will be held in Türkiye. As the Turkish Tennis Federation, we are hosting the Haier Bosphorus Challenger Cup in May. The Istanbul Challenger TED Open, which has been institutionalized by the TED Sports Club and reached its 79th year this year, will be organized in September. In addition, ENKA Sports Club will host the ENKA Open at the ATP Challenger level starting from 2026.
I congratulate the TED Sports Club for its contributions to the development of Turkish tennis for years and for successfully sustaining the Istanbul Challenger organization for 79 years; and I congratulate the ENKA Sports Club for bringing a new organization at the ATP Challenger level to the calendar.
Only two weeks ago, right here at the TTF Istanbul Tennis Training Center, we hosted the world's prominent female tennis players at the WTA 125 level Istanbul Open. This week, ahead of Roland Garros, we are gathering the rising stars of men's tennis in Istanbul within the scope of the ATP Challenger Tour at the Haier Bosphorus Challenger Cup.
This year, 74 athletes from 26 countries are competing in our tournament. A total of 11 Turkish athletes took part in the tournament, with Mert Alkaya, Kerem Yılmaz, Tuncay Duran, and Mert Naci Türker in the singles main draw; Tuğra Duran, Melih Anatavan, Toprak Avcıbaşı, Kaan Işık Koşaner, Ergi Kırkın, and Cem İlkel in the qualifiers; and Mert Özdemir, Mert Naci Türker, and Ergi Kırkın in the doubles.
We find it exceptionally valuable for our Turkish tennis players to gain more match experience in organizations at this level. Especially for our young athletes, competing at the ATP Challenger level holds immense importance, not only for their individual development but also for the future of Turkish tennis.
As the Federation, our goal is to build a structure where our athletes take part in more international organizations, the tennis culture spreads nationwide, and Türkiye's position in world tennis strengthens day by day.
We are also uniquely proud to realize these organizations in one of the most important cities in the world like Istanbul.
We believe that these tournaments are highly valuable for the performance of our athletes, the expansion of tennis culture in Türkiye, and for bringing tennis lovers into closer contact with world tennis. In addition, we attach great importance to forming sports environments that will inspire our children and youth.
I would like to thank Haier, who contributed to the development of Turkish tennis and gave its name to the tournament, and also thank Türkiye İş Bankası, Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv, and Acıbadem Healthcare Group for their support of the tournament."
“We will continue to support Turkish sports and young generations”
Haier Europe General Manager for Türkiye, Southern Europe, and Emerging Markets, Gözde Küçükyılmaz, stated the following in her speech:
"As Haier, we are among the global partners of the ATP. It is a great pleasure for us to take part in the Istanbul leg of the ATP Challenger Tour with the contributions of the Turkish Tennis Federation and to be a part of this organization.
Alongside the ATP Tour, we also support Grand Slam organizations such as the Australian Open and Roland Garros. As the Türkiye team, this tournament holds a very special place for us. We will continue to sustain this journey to support Turkish sports and young generations.
I hope it will be a wonderful week for tennis. We thank everyone who contributed to the organization."
“We are working on a long-term roadmap with our federation for the future of Turkish tennis”
İş Bankası Deputy Director General Suat Sözen expressed his happiness over hosting the Bosphorus Challenger Cup on the men's side following the Istanbul Open, which featured the rising stars of women's tennis.
Emphasizing the need to work hard to sustain this momentum, Sözen said:
"I hope that in the coming years, as a country that has reached upper levels in tennis, we will host tournaments that are both greater in number and more competitive. To achieve this, the path we have determined and are working on together with our Federation passes through popularizing tennis. Thus, we aim to detect all our talented children and youth. We attach importance to the education and development of our coaches; we aim to ensure they work with the best in the world and observe the countries showing the best development. Furthermore, we believe that our athletes' participation in more international tournaments is vital for their development."
“We are proud to contribute to the development of tennis in Türkiye”
Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv Automobile Sales and Marketing Director Dr. Nadine Adam shared the following evaluations in her speech:
"As Mercedes-Benz, we attach great importance to the unifying power of sports and a high-performance culture. Tennis is not merely a sports branch for us; it is the symbol of discipline and excellence.
As the reflection of our global strategy in Türkiye, we are happy to sustain the cooperation we initiated this year with the Turkish Tennis Federation, first with the Istanbul Open and now with the Haier Bosphorus Challenger Cup sponsorship.
As one of the tournament sponsors, we provide the transportation of the athletes and organization officials with Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv vehicles. We are proud to contribute to the development of tennis in Türkiye and wish success to all athletes."
“The health of the athletes is entrusted to us”
Acıbadem Sports Sponsorships Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Çağrı İlk used the following expressions:
"As Acıbadem Healthcare Group, we are happy to be the sponsor of the Haier Bosphorus Challenger Cup. As the official medical sponsor of the Turkish Tennis Federation, the health of the athletes is entrusted to us in this tournament as well.
This organization is exceptionally valuable not only for tennis but also for Turkish sports. Because such international organizations increase the interest in sports while inspiring young generations.
I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the organization, especially our Turkish Tennis Federation President Ms. Şafak Müderrisgil."
“We are experiencing the happiness of bringing a new Challenger organization to Türkiye”
Tournament Director Melis Yafe included the following statements in her description:
"We are experiencing great happiness in bringing a new Challenger organization to Türkiye. We also organized a WTA tournament here last week. Our goal is to go further in every organization and continuously develop our international standards. Mert Alkaya in singles, and Ergi Kırkın, Mert Naci Türker, and Mert Özdemir in doubles continue their struggles. Following our press conference, we will all watch Mert Alkaya's second-round match together."
“These organizations are highly valuable for young athletes”
National tennis player Mert Alkaya said:
"First of all, I would like to thank the Turkish Tennis Federation and our sponsors who contributed to the realization of this tournament.
This kind of organization holds great importance, especially for our young athletes. Because the earlier you take part in tournaments at this level, the more important experience you gain for your career development.
Playing in your own country and in front of your own crowd is a very special feeling. You always feel the support of the stands behind you. I thank everyone who supports us."
The doubles final of the organization will take place on Saturday, May 23, at 12:00, and the singles final will occur immediately after the doubles final on Saturday, May 23, at approximately 14:00.
