👦 Faisal Khaled | Tennis Papers interview, December 2025
“My goal in 2026 is to be ranked among the top 500 juniors in the world.”
Meet Faisal Khaled, Iraqi boy junior tennis player who lives in Baghdad, Iraq and competing in U18 tennis category.
Faisal is number 1 in Iraq in the Junior category and he competes in the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors.
(Information gathered via an exclusive interview by Tennis Papers).
📘 Faisal Khaled | Biography, December 2025
| Name | Faisal Khaled |
| Date of birth | July 20, 2009 |
| Nationality | Iraqi |
| Residence | Baghdad, Iraq |
| @faisal_khhaled | |
| Age started tennis | 7 |
| Tennis Club | Iraqi Hunting Club |
| Tennis coach | Maath Essam Mohammed Rafaat |
| Junior tennis category | U18 |
| National tennis ranking | #1 |
| International tennis ranking | #3000 ITF Juniors |
| Sponsors |
🌆 Baghdad, Iraq 🇮🇶
🏛️ Once the center of the Islamic Golden Age
📚 Home to stories, poets & scholars
🌴 Lined with palm trees along the Tigris River
🍢 Rich in traditional dishes & warm tea
🤍 A city of resilience, soul & history
🎙️Faisal Khaled | Interview, December 2025
Hello, introduce yourself please.Hello! I’m Faisal Khaled, Iraqi national tennis player. I am 16 years old, I was born on July 20, 2009.
What languages do you speak?My language is Arabic.
At what age did you start playing tennis?I started playing tennis at the age of 9.
Are there other tennis players in your family?My brother Taha Khaled also plays tennis and he’s a pro.
In which club do you train?I train at the Hunting Club in Baghdad.
Who are your coaches?My tennis coach is Maath Essam and my fitness coach is Mohammed Rafaat.
What is your weekly training routine?My training program includes 6 days a week, 2 hours of tennis and 2 hours of fitness.
As an athlete, what is your greatest quality and what do you need to improve?–
What is your junior category and your national ranking?I am number 1 in Iraq in the under-18 category.
My ITF ranking is #3000.What has been your greatest achievement?–
In which countries have you already played tournament?–
Do you have any sponsors?I don’t have any sponsors.
What is your goal for 2026?My goal in 2026 is to be, at best, a player ranked among the top 500 juniors in the world.
What is your tennis dream?I want to be like Roger Federer because he is my idol.
Who are your favorite tennis players?My favourite tennis player is Roger Federer.
What do you like to do outside of tennis?–
To which people would you like to dedicate this interview?–
Thanks a lot Faisal!
Tennis Papers wishes you the best in your tennis life 💜🩷
