Rich in museums and Soviet-era monuments, Tashkent is one of central Asia's oldest cities. The capital of Uzbekistan welcomed a WTA stop in 1999 with the debut of the Tashkent Open.

The tournament has featured a different singles champion every year since its inception, the locals especially delighting in Tashkent native and resident Iroda Tulyaganova's triumph in 2000. Belarusian Tatiana Poutchek has dominated in doubles, netting five titles - each with a different partner.

Stars to have graced the courts at the Tashkent Open include Victoria Azarenka, Marion Bartoli, Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Myskina, Li Na, Dinara Safina and Francesca Schiavone.