ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: Top seed Aqeel Khan dropped a set in his quarterfinal against Muhammad Shafiq Friday but recovered to earn a berth in the semifinals of the 4th All-Pakistan Sirajul Haq Memorial Open Tennis Championship.
Aqeel went through with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 win over his Lahore- based rival who put up a high quality show on the clay courts of the PTF Complex.
Others advancing to the pre-finals of the tournament were second seed Nomi Qamar, a 6-4, 6-4 winner against Aurangzeb Khan, Inam Gul who outplayed Saeedul Haq 6-0, 6-2 and Shahzad Khan, a 6-1, 6-4 conqueror of Shahzad Samad Khan.
In the boys under-18 singles, Shahzad Khan and Babar Ali qualified for Saturday’s final by scoring straight-set victories over their opponents.
Shahzad showed Munir Ashiq the door winning 4-0, 4-1 while Babar defeated Usman Ijaz 5-3, 5-3.
The girls under-18 final will pit Zara Omer against Rawalpindi’s Sara Mahboob. In the semis, Zara knocked out Anoosha Aslam 4-2, 4-0 and Sara eliminated Natasha Afridi in a well contested match 1-4, 4-2, 4-2.
RESULTS:
Men’s singles quarterfinals:
Aqeel Khan bt Muhammad Shafiq 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, Shahzad Khan bt Shahzad Samad Khan 6-1, 6- 4, Inam Gul bt Saeedul Haq 6-0, 6-2, Nomi Qamar bt Aurangzeb Khan 6-4, 6-4.