LAHORE, April 28: Muhammad Shafiq made it to the last eight after beating Davis Cupper Shahzad Khan in the National Open tennis championship tie at Bagh-i-Jinnah courts on Wednesday. Shafiq was extended to three sets by Shahzad before winning 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3.
He grabbed the first set to take 1-0 lead. Both players held their services to be equalled at six-all and entered the tie-breaker. After a gruelling fight the two were again matching at five-all.
Shafiq, however, clinched the sets by claiming back-to-back points. Shahzad showed aggressive game in the second set which brought him back to level the score one-all. Amid long rallies, both Shafiq and Shahzad were tied at four-all. Here Shahzad got the upper hand and broke Shafiq's serve to go 5-4up and then held his own to take the sets 6-4.
Shafiq managed to break Shahzad's serve in the seventh game to gain 4-3 lead. Then he went ahead 5-3 by keeping his own. On the rampage, Shafiq again broke Shahzad's serve in the ninth game to seal the fate of the match.
Another Davis Cupper, Nomi Qamar also faced a tough fight from Mehmood Khan before inflicting 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 defeat. Top seed Aisam-ul-Haq continued his winning march to enter the quarterfinals, defeating Kamran Khalil in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.
Aqeel Khan, another fancied player, proved too good for Shahid Afridi to earn 7-5, 7-5 win. In the doubles, an Indian pair of R.I Singh and Rajwade moved to the next round, beating Khail-ur-Rehman and partner 6-0, 6-0.
