Samarkand Celebrates 20 Years On Challenger Tour One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia, the metropolis of Samarkand has welcomed players and fans for 20 years on the ATP Challenger Tour. Located on the Silk Road, the ancient trade route linking China to the Mediterranean, Samarkand is the second-largest city in Uzbekistan. Since 1996, the Tennis Club Dinamo has hosted a Challenger, with future Top 10 stars Mikhail Youzhny reigning in 2000, Janko Tipsarevic in 2006 and Karen Khachanov in 2016.