13 July 2004	Tuesday	24 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, July 12: Top seed Ahmed Aslam from Lahore survived several anxious moments, before making his way into the last 16 in the boys under-17 Pakistan Open tennis championship when he overpowered Ali Abdullah 6-4, 7-5 at the Karachi Club hard courts on Monday.

The bespectacled youngster had to struggle hard to win the first set 6-4 and was trailing 3-5 in the second before Ali let him off the hook with three double faults while serving for the set. This lapse proved decisive in the context of the match.

Breathing easier now 4-5 behind, Ahmed cashing in on his service and fluent backhand smashes emerged winner 6-4, 7-5. In another encounter, Usman Ijaz breezed past Asad Ali Matches walla 6-0, 6-0 and the same could be said about junior Davis Cupper Umer Baber, who emerged victor over Ali Tariq Kidwai 6-1, 6-0.

On the other hand Aamir Ali Khan had to work hard to reach the last 16, after a hard fought out 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Ali Asghar Bandeali. Also working up a sweat was Danish Ahmed, a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Syed M. Abbas Raza. Going through the last 16 was Khurram Nazir, who ended the pretensions of Sher Rehman Khan 6-2, 6-2.

In the men's singles, talented left-hander Adnan Khan made his exit from the tournament, beaten by Davis Cupper Shahzad Khan 7-6, 6-3. After a tough first set that was forced into a tiebreaker, Adnan playing attacking tennis led 6-2 in the tiebreak. But fighting back tooth and nail Shahzad not only equalised at 6-6, but also went on to win the tiebreaker 8-6 and first set 7-6.

Terribly disappointed with himself, Adnan tried his level best to fight back in the next set. But by now the wind had been blown away from his sails losing the next frame 6-3 and the match.

In an earlier match, Adnan had to bring out is best in disposing off Yasir Khan 6-3, 7-6. After taking the first set 6-3, Adnan was trailing 2-6 on the tiebreaker. Yasir seemed on song to pinch the second set and draw level before a heavy drizzle forced the players off the court.

When play began again after a 20-minute lapse, Adnan turned the game around in his favour. Snatching the tiebreaker 8-6, Adnan went on to win set and match. The Baloch twins from Hyderabad also made it through to the last 16. Saad accounting for Wang Xiaoping 6-0, 6-1 and Samad upsetting 16th seed Asim Ali Khan 6-2, 6-4.

But any illusions the twins had of reaching the last eight was later dashed to the ground, when Saad met his Waterloo at the hands of sixth seed Wasim Cheema 6-1, 6-3, while Samad crashed out to second seed Nomi Qamar 6-2, 6-1.

Also advancing into the quarterfinal round was Mohammad Shafiq, who ousted giant killer Akbar Patudi 7-5, 6-0. Top seed Aqeel Khan beat Tanvir Ashiq 6-0, 6-0.

Younger brother and third seed Jalil Khan accounted for Umer Baber 6-0, 6-3, while fifth seed Inam Gul brushed aside Danish Ahmed 6-3, 6-2. Mehmood Khan who came through a 6-2, 6-4 winner against Munir Ashiq.

In the men's doubles the Baloch twins Saad and Samad upset the applecart of Junior Davis cuppers Umer Baber and Usman Ijaz in three hard fought sets. After being totally outplayed in the first set 3-6, the twins bounced back to take the next two sets and match 6-3, 6-2.

In the oys doubles event, Nasir Mushtaq and Ghulam Abbas beat Hassan Ahmed and S.M. Naeem 6-0, 7-5. Ali Asghar and Jehangir got the better of Danish Khwaja 6-1, 6-2 and S.M. Abbas Raza and S. Zaair Raza blew the whistle on Zain Saleem and Anis Salim 7-6 (8-6), 6-0.

In the two ladies matches decided on Monday, Aal Zehra and Zarmeen Shoaib went through the next round with comfortable victories over Muneeza Rizwan and Sanam Mughal respectively.

RESULTS:

Men's singles (pre-quarterfinals)

Aqeel Khan bt Tanvir Ashiq 6-0, 6-0; Mohammad Shafiq bt Akbar Patudi 7-5, 6-0; Jalil Khan bt Umer Baber 6-0, 6-3; Shahzad Khan bt Adnan Khan 7-6 (8-6) 6-3; Wasif Cheema bt Saad Baloch 6-1, 6-3; Inam Gul bt Danish Ahmed 6-3, 6-2; Mehmood Khan bt Munir Ashiq 6-2, 6-4; Noomi Qamar beat Samad Baloch 6-2, 6-1.

Boys singles under-17(pre-quarterfinals)

M. Ahmed Aslam bt Ali Abdullah 6-4, 7-5; Usman Ijaz bt Asad Ali Matcheswala 6-0, 6-0; Aamir Ali Khan bt Ali Asghar Bandeali 6-3, 6-4; Danish Ahmed bt Syed Abbas Raza 6-3, 6-4; Khurram Nazir bt Sher Rehman Khan 6-2, 6-2; Umer Baber bt Ali Tariq Kidwai 6-1, 6-0; Tanveer Aashiq w/o Ahmer Javaid; Yasir Khan w/o Hassan Ahmed.

Men's doubles: Saad Baloch/Samad Baloch bt Umer Baber &Usman Ejaz 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Boys doubles under-15: Ali Asghar/Jahangir bt Danish Khwaja/Mothasim 6-1, 6-2; S.M. Abbas Raza/S. Zahair Raza bt Zain Saleem/Anas Salim 7-6 (8-6), 6-0; Nasir Mushtaq/Ghulam Abbas bt Hassan Ahmed/S.M. Naeem 6-0, 7-5; Qurban Ali/ Altamash w/o Salman Ahmed/Partner.

Ladies singles: Aal Zehra bt Munezza Rizwan 6-0, 6-0; Zarmeen Shoaib bt Sanam Mughal 6-0 6-1.

Tuesday's fixtures:

9:00am. Boys under-15

11:00am. Boys under-13

1pm. Boys under-17

3pm. Men's singles (quarterfinals).