👦 Ismail Benkirane | Tennis Papers interview, January 2026
“My goal for 2026 is to win the tournament ‘Les Petits As’.”
Based in Casablanca, Morocco, Ismail Benkirane is a junior tennis player competing in the Boys U13-U14 categories.
Ranked among the top 3 players nationally in his age group, Ismail Benkirane is active on the African CAT Junior Tour and the international Ten-Pro Global Junior Tour, where he continues to build competitive experience.
This profile is based on an exclusive interview conducted by Tennis Papers in January 2026.
📘 Ismail Benkirane | Biography, January 2026
| Name | Ismail Benkirane |
| Date of birth | March 4, 2013 |
| Nationality | Moroccan |
| Residence | Casablanca, Morocco |
| Age started tennis | 3 |
| Tennis age category | U13 |
| National ranking | #3 |
| International ranking | #49 Africa U14 |
| Tennis club | USM/TCC |
| Coaches | |
| Sponsors | |
| @ismabkrn |
🌊 Casablanca, Morocco 🇲🇦 – city of ocean views & modern energy
🕌 Home to the iconic Hassan II Mosque on the Atlantic coast
🌊 Set between the oceanfront promenade and urban skyline
🏙️ Morocco’s economic capital and business hub
🎭 A blend of modern life, tradition & cultural diversity
🍽️ Enjoy rich Moroccan cuisine and international flavors
✨ A vibrant mix of heritage, sea & contemporary lifestyle
🎙️Ismail Benkirane | Interview, January 2026
Hello, introduce yourself please.My name is Ismail Benkirane, I am 12 years old, I was born on March 4, 2013.
I am from Casablanca, Morocco.What languages do you speak?I speak French and English and a little of Arabic.
At what age did you start playing tennis?I started tennis training at 3 years old but started playing when I learned how to walk.
Are there other tennis players in your family?My whole family used to play tennis.
My father played 3 sets against Reda El Amrani (former ATP world number 160) and won against Arnaud Di Pasquale.In which club do you train?I train at USM TCC.
Who are your coaches?I have 2 coaches of tennis and 2 of fitness.
What is your weekly training routine?I train 2 hours of tennis and 2-3 hours of fitness a day.
What is your greatest strength as a player, and what do you need to improve?My forehand is my greatest strenght and I need to improve my footwork.
What is your age category and national ranking?I am number 3 of Morocco in U13.
What have been your greatest successes so far?–
In which countries have you played tournaments?I competed in Spain, Germany, France and Italy.
Do you have any sponsors?No sponsorship.
What is your goal for 2026?My goal for 2026 is to win “Les Petits As” tournament.
What is your tennis dream?My tennis dream is to reach 1st place in the ATP ranking.
Who are your favorite tennis players?My favourite player is Roger Federer.
What do you enjoy outside of tennis?I like going out.
Who would you like to dedicate this interview to?To Roger Federer.
Ismail ,thank you for the interview 🙌
Tennis Papers wishes you all the best in your tennis journey 💜🩷
