Finals Sunday · A photo story
Alani, Poonevala, Khan and Singh take home Manhattan Ladder titles
Tareq Alani, Zahra Poonevala, Yahya Khan and Jagnoor Singh are our 2026 division champions. If you’d like to be part of next year’s season, the 2027 Manhattan Singles Ladder returns in spring. Join The Loop to hear when registration opens.
We couldn’t have asked for better fall weather for Finals Sunday. At Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Tareq Alani, Zahra Poonevala, Yahya Khan and Jagnoor Singh finished the 2026 Manhattan Ladder season as division champions, with players and supporters gathered by the courts.
There was quite a bit behind those wins. Zahra Poonevala tore her ACL last year. Tareq Alani had returned to tennis after ten years away, having played in college. Jagnoor Singh arrived at the final undefeated and left with that record intact.
It wasn’t all straightforward on court. Jagnoor Singh needed a third-set super tiebreak to beat Collin Nathanson 10–8, and Tareq Alani went three sets with Alex Weisshuhn Araujo. Zahra Poonevala and Yahya Khan won their finals in straight sets. We’ve put the results and photographs together below, including moments from the sidelines as well as the matches.
With our thanks
Thank you, Peter, Gary and HydraCourt
A big thank-you to Peter and Gary, our official chair umpires, who chaired all four finals matches. It meant a lot to have you both with us for the season’s final day.
And a big thank-you to HydraCourt for providing the hydration stations for all four finals. We’re grateful for your support of our players and the Manhattan Ladder community.
01 / Before play
Before the finals
A few photographs at the net before play got under way. It’s good to have these moments from the start of the day, as well as the ones with the trophies afterward.
02 / On court
Match play
With four division finals to follow, there was plenty of tennis to watch. These photographs catch a few moments from the day’s matches.
03 / The players
How our champions got here
We wanted to share a little about the people behind this year’s results.
A Division champion
Tareq Alani
Back on court after ten years
Tareq Alani played college tennis, then spent ten years away from the sport before returning. This season brought him all the way to the A Division final.
It took three sets against Alex Weisshuhn Araujo, but Tareq Alani came through 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 to finish the season with the title.
B Division champion
Zahra Poonevala
A title after last year’s injury
Last year, Zahra Poonevala tore her ACL. This year, she was back at the net with the B Division trophy.
She beat Anthony Palmaro 6–2, 7–5. It was lovely to see Zahra Poonevala back on court and to celebrate her win.
C Division champion
Yahya Khan
Finishing with a straight-sets win
Yahya Khan finished his season with a 6–2, 6–4 win over Akant Punia in the C Division final.
Congratulations to Yahya Khan on the title, and to Akant Punia on reaching the final.
D Division champion
Jagnoor Singh
Keeping an unbeaten season intact
Jagnoor Singh hadn’t lost a match all season, and Collin Nathanson made him work to keep it that way in the final.
After splitting the first two sets, they settled the title in a third-set super tiebreak. Jagnoor Singh won it 10–8, taking the D Division title with a 6–7, 6–4, [10–8] win and an unbeaten season.
04 / Courtside
Courtside on a fall afternoon
New York gave us one of those fall afternoons that makes you glad to be outside: sunshine, autumn color, and sweater weather on the benches. It was a good day to stay and watch another match.
Friends and family watched from the sidelines, caught up between points, and joined the players for photographs afterward.
Thanks to everyone who came out to support the finalists.
05 / The finalists
Finalist portraits
A photograph together after the match, and something to remember the day by. Here are the four finalist pairs, with their results below.
The 2026 season-ending tournaments
Final results
Here’s how the four finals finished. You can also open each division’s draw to see the earlier rounds on Global Tennis Network.
4.25–5.5 NTRP
Tareq Alanidefeated Alex Weisshuhn Araujo
6–2, 4–6, 6–2
Final result
Full draw & scores ↗3.75–4.25 NTRP
Zahra Poonevaladefeated Anthony Palmaro
6–2, 7–5
Final result
Full draw & scores ↗3.25–3.75 NTRP
Yahya Khandefeated Akant Punia
6–2, 6–4
Final result
Full draw & scores ↗2.0–3.25 NTRP
Jagnoor Singhdefeated Collin Nathanson
6–7, 6–4, [10–8]
Decided by a third-set super tiebreak.
Full draw & scores ↗The complete photo collection
Photographs from Finals Sunday
We’ve kept 50 photographs from Sunday here, from the first pictures at the net to the trophy portraits. Have a look through the main gallery, the shorter highlights, or the full collection.
50 photographs
Showing the 19-photo main gallery.
Players together at the net before a final. 
Racquets ready before the match. 
A photograph together before the next match. 
A handshake and a photograph before play. 
The chair official watches over play. 
Ready for the next return. 
A moment of concentration before the next ball. 
A pause between points. 
A player gets into position for the next shot. 
Serving at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. 
A shot from the baseline in the afternoon light. 
A quiet moment on the sidelines. 
A courtside gathering with friends and family. 
Friends and family share a photograph beside the courts. 
The spectators have their own view of the match. 
C Division: Yahya Khan defeated Akant Punia, 6–2, 6–4. 
D Division: Jagnoor Singh defeated Collin Nathanson, 6–7, 6–4, [10–8]. Decided by a third-set super tiebreak. 
B Division: Zahra Poonevala defeated Anthony Palmaro, 6–2, 7–5. 
A Division: Tareq Alani defeated Alex Weisshuhn Araujo, 6–2, 4–6, 6–2. 
Courtside supplies for Finals Sunday. 
The view across the net on Finals Sunday. 
Preparing for a point on the blue courts. 
Singles play beneath the grandstand. 
Watching the courtside action. 
Players and an official together after the match. 
A courtside official during Finals Sunday. 
Players and an official at the net. 
Getting ready on court. 
A courtside pause. 
Talking beside the court. 
Watching play from the benches. 
The view from the sidelines. 
Players and an official together at the net. 
A return from the blue courts. 
The match, seen from the sidelines. 
A wide view of play beneath the grandstand. 
Following through on the next shot. 
Friends and family watch from the benches. 
Following the ball from the other side of the net. 
Ready on the baseline. 
The next ball comes into play. 
Keeping the rally going. 
The match draws a courtside audience. 
A pause at the net. 
The court, seen through its surrounding railings. 
New York tennis, worn on the back of a shirt. 
Watching the point from close to the court. 
Spectators follow the action. 
A wide view of one of the day’s final matches. 
A moment on the sidelines late in the day.
2026 Manhattan Ladder Finals · October 25 · Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
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