03 May 2004	Monday	12 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

LAHORE, May 2: Pakistan top seed Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan are set to clash in the National Open grass court championship final after winning their respective semifinals at the Bagh-i-Jinnah courts on Sunday.

The final will be played on Monday. Aisam, thrashed discarded Davis Cupper Asim Shafik instraight sets 6-4, 6-4. He took hardly 25 minutes to edge past Aasim. The lanky, Aisam covered the court excellently and his drop and volley shots earned him several points.

The two players were tied at four-all in the first set. Aisam forged ahead 5-4 by breaking Shafik in the ninthgameand then held his own to wrap up the set. Aisamsealed the fate of the match by winning thesecondset after breaking Shafik the 8th game.

In the other semifinal, Aqeel, was stretched to three sets by Davis Cupper Nomi Qamar, to beat Nomi 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. Nomi stunnedAqeel by winning thefirstset quite easily. But Aqeel, settled down well to win the remaining two sets in a row and the match, too.

Nomi broke Aqeel's serves in the third and the fifth games in the first set. Aqeel held Nomi's serves in the second and the sixthgame in the second set to be an easy winner. Aqeel completed the win when he dropped only two games to win the third set.

Nausheen Ihteshamand Mariam Rahim have qualified for the ladies singles' final. Nausheen made short work of Nida Rahim 6-2, 6-0 in the first prefinals. Mariam easily ousted Sana Baght 6-1, 6-0. The ladies final will be played on Monday at 10am.

Results:

Men's singles (prefinals): Aisamul Haq bt Asim Shafik 6-4, 6-4; Aqeel Khan bt Nomi Qamar 3-6, 6-1, 6-2

Ladies' singles (prefinals): Nausheen Ihtesham bt Nida Rahim 6-2, 6-0; Mariam Rahim bt Sana Baght 6-1, 6-0.