KARACHI, Oct 25: Top seed Aqeel Khan moved into the men’s singles final of the Sixth UBL Salma Noorani Tennis Championship, but he had to bring out his best while ousting newcomer Shahzad Samad 6-3, 7-5 at the Karachi Club Friday.

With both players on the attack from the word go, Aqeel took the first set 6-3, but then Shahzad, the young left-hander from Peshawar, making his first appearance in a ranking tournament, displayed some brilliant forehand and backhand shots which augers well for the future, to level the scores 5-5 in the next set.

Aqeel bringing out all the tricks in the bag, took the next two points to win the set and match 7-5.

The top seed joined second seed Nomi Qamar, who earlier, had to work up a sweat in disposing off sixth seed Shahzad Khan 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. After losing the first set, Shahzad powered his way through the next set 6-3, to level the scores 1-1 and although putting up a brave front, was forced to surrender the deciding set to Nomi 3-6.

In the ladies singles semifinals, top seed Marium Rahim made short work of unseeded Sana Bhagat 6-1, 6-0, and will meet second seed Nausheen Ehtesham Saturday afternoon, after the second seed accounted for Marium’s younger sister and third seed Nida Rahim 6-1, 6-1.

In the junior singles, top seed Shahzad Khan brushed aside seventh seeded Haris Iltifat 6-2, 6-1 and will meet third seed Shahid Afridi, who a day earlier, eliminated Munir Ashiq 7-5, 6-0.

In the boys singles semifinals, top seed Tanvir Ashiq had a fight on his hands before he beat off the stiff challenge of Haris Iltifat 5-7, 6-3, 6-0. Tanvir will now take on Yasir Khan in the final. Yasir too had to struggle hard in finally getting the better of fifth seed Usman Ejaz from Quetta 6-4, 6-7 (7-4), 7-5.

Nomi Qamar and Aurangzeb got the better of Inam Gul and Irfanullah 6-4, 6-4 in the men’s doubles quarterfinals and later in the night session playing their semifinal against Asad Ali Bhagat and Hasan Mehmood, were forced to surrender the match to their opponents who were leading 1-0 in the first set.

The reason being Nomi trying to retrieve a high volley from Asad, slipped and crashed heavily against the side steel gate on Court No.2. Groaning with severe pain, Nomi could not continue the match and was taken to the hospital for X’Rays and treatment.

The top seeds Aqeel Khan and Rashid Malik however, had an easier time in reaching the final, after beating the young combination of Jalil Khan and M. Shafiq 6-3, 6-1.

In the Veteran’s doubles event, the Admani brothers Yaqoob and Ashraf, ended the pretensions of Yousuf Suleman and Wang Xiou Peng (China) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, in the pre-quarterfinals. But later in the night session while meeting Akbar H. Khan and Zahid Hussain for a place in the semi-finals, the Admani brothers bowed out 6-2, 6-2.

Also reaching the semifinals was Captain Tasleem Muzaffar and Abdul Rauf, victors over Ilyas and Tariq 6-1, 6-0.

The boy’s under-14 final will be played at 3.00 p.m, between Yasir Khan and Tanveer Ashiq.

The ladies singles final between top seed Marium Rahim and Nausheen Ehtesham will begin at 4-30 p.m.

The men’s doubles final will see top seeds Aqeel Khan and Rashid Malik take on the young combination of Asad Ali Bhagat and Hasan Mehmood at 5-30 p.m.

Later the Veteran’s Doubles will be played.

In case Nomi Qamar will not be able to play in the men’s singles final due to injury, then the junior singles will be played Sunday between Shahzad Khan and Shahid Afridi.

Results:

Men’s singles (Semifinals).

Aqeel Khan bt Shahzad 6-3, 7-5. Nomi Qamar bt Shahzad Khan 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Ladies singles (Semifinals). Marium Rahim bt Sana Bhagat 6-1, 6-0. Nausheen Ehtesham bt Nida Rahim 6-1, 6-3.

Juniors singles (Semifinals) Shahzad Khan bt Haris Iltifat 6-4, 6-7 (7-4), 7-5.

Boy’s singles (Semifinals)

Yasir Khan bt Usman Ejaz 6-4, 6-7 (7-4), 7-5. Tanveer Ashiq bt Haris Iltifat 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.

Men’s doubles (Quarterfinals)

Nomi Qamar & Aurangzeb bt Inam Gul & Irfanullah 6-4, 6-4.

Men’s doubles (Semifinals)

Aqeel Khan & Rashid Malik bt Jalil Khan & M. Shafiq 6-3, 6-1.

Asad Ali Bhagat & Hasan Mehmood bt Nomi Qamar & Aurangzeb 1-0 (retired).

Veterans doubles (pre-quarterfinals)

Yaqoob Admani & Ashraf Admani bt Yousuf Suleman & Wang Xiou Peng (China) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

Veterans doubles (Quarterfinals)

Akbar H. Khan & Zahid Hussain bt Yaqboob Admani & Ashraf Admani 6-2, 6-2.

Tasleem Muzaffar & Abdul Rauf bt Ilyas & Tariq 6-0, 6-1.