ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: Unseeded Saeedul Haq sprang a surprise Thursday putting the brakes on fourth seed Kamran Khalil to advance to the men’s singles semifinals of the 18th Federal Cup Tennis Tournament at the Islamabad Club courts.

In what was a well-contested match, Saeed, younger brother of former Davis Cup player Hameedul Haq, won 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 and will now face Rashid Malik, a 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3 winner over 10th seed Mahmood Khan.

The tournament top seed Asim Shafik also moved into the pre- finals after defeating Hameed 6-4, 6-0 where he faces Nomi Qamar who knocked out Younis Khan 6-0, 6-1.

In the women’s singles Mariam Rahim set up a semifinal clash with her younger sister Nida after both scored straight set victories.

Mariam outplayed Huma Ajam 6-0, 6-0 while Nida outplayed Suhair Khan 6-0, 6-2.

Also making the last four were Nosheen Ehtisham and Mehvish Chishtie, both comfortable quarterfinal winners. Nosheen’s victim was Maria Rahim whom she hammered 6-1, 6-0 while Mehvish Chishtie showed little mercy to Zahra Omer 6-2, 6-1.

Nosheen will now take on National Games gold medallist Mehvish in the semifinals.

Results:

Men’s singles (quarterfinals) Asim Shafik b Hameedul Haq 6-4, 6-0; Nomi Qamar bt Younis Khan 6- 0, 6-1; Saeedul Haq bt Kamran Khalil 5-7, 6-1, 6-2; Rashid Malik bt Mahmood Khan 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3.

Junior singles (quarterfinals): Shahzad Khan bt Wasif Cheema 7-5, 6-7(3), 7-6(5); Gulzeb Niazi bt Ashiq Munir 2-6, 7-5, 6-3; Shahzad bt Babar Ali 6-2, 7-6(4), Inam Gul bt Mahir Nisar 6-1, 6-0

Boys under-14 (quarterfinals): Noumanul Haq bt Ali Khalid 6-1, 6-1, S. Kumail Rizvi bt Imran Khan 6-0, 6-1; Imran Rasool bt Sajid Riaz 6-1, 6-1; Sheryar N iazi bt Mustafa Syed 7-5, 6-2.

Women’s singles (quarterfinals): Mariam Rahim bt Huma Ajam 6-0, 6-0; Nida Rahim bt Suhair Khan 6- 0, 6-2; Nosheen Ehtisham bt Maira Rahim 6-1, 6-0; Mehvish Chishtie bt Zahra Omer 6-2, 6-1.

Boys under-12 (pro set, pre-quarterfinals): Abid Ali bt Musa Hasan 6-2; Zahid Ajam bt Shan Sardar 6-4; Zain Abbas bt Saad Hasan 6-1; Sajad Khan bt Shayan Ahmed 6-4; Tabish Habib bt Ahsan Ausaf 7-5; Waqar Hassan bt Jibranul Haq 6-4; Musa Mufti bt Changez Mufti 6-4; Tabish Raza bt Younis Ajam 6-0.

Girls under-12 (pro set): Noor Naina Zafar bt Afia Asghar 6-1.

Men’s doubles (semifinals): Waqar Nisar-Waheen Anwar bt Col Asif Dar-Maj Salman 6-3, 5-7, 6- 4; Group Capt Razi-Dr. Ehtisham bt Ali Akbar-Pervaiz Khan 6-4, 5- 7, 6-4.

Quarterfinals: Asim Shafik-Rashid Malik bt M. Shafik-Ikramul Haq 6-1, 6-2; Hameedul Haq-Mushaf Zia bt Saeedul Haq-Aurangzeb 6-2, 6-2; Nomi Qamar-Shahid Khan bt Group Capt Razi-Dr. Ehtisham 6-1, 6-2; Capt Zia-Nasir Munir vs Mahmood-Kamran 6-3, 2-3 (unfinished).

Veterans doubles: Altaf Kazmi-G. Shafik bt Farooqullah-Khalid 6-1, 6-1; Maj Pervaiz-Sameen Jan Babar bt Sher Khan-Rashid Khan 6-2, 6-2; S. Dilawar Abbas-Saleem Gul Sheikh w/o Jahangir Bashar-Brig. Durrani.