LAHORE, Aug 28: Showing great determination and fine display of spin and crosscourt shots Aqeel Khan recovered to outlast Japanese Sakai Toshiaki in a three-set ITF Satellite Circuit championship (3rd leg) final to earn the second crown at the Model Town Club on Saturday.

Aqeel, who had defeated Toshiaki in the first leg at Islamabad but was beaten in the second at Lahore last week, gained a 2-1 lead by winning the third leg's final with the score 1-6, 6-4, 6-3.

The gruelling final lasted for 110 minutes.

Toshiaki, who was brilliant in passing shots and serves, started off in a stormy style winning the first set while dropping only one game.

Aqeel was nowhere in the first set as Toshiaki, who started the serve, soon built up a 4-0 lead with two breaks in the second and fourth game.

Holding his own serve in the fifth to surge ahead 5-0, Toshiaki was on the brink of wrapping up the set at 6-0 when he was again near breaking Aqeel in the sixth game.

Aqeel was 30-0 ahead but made some unforced errors to see Toshiaki catch up with him 40-all for deuce. Aqeel succeeded in holding his serve but not before four deuces.

However, Toshiaki held his next serve to win the first set with a clear margin.

Aqeel after losing the first set easily regained his composure to stage a brilliant comeback.

Both contenders started a baseline game and served well to be tied till 2-2. Here Aqeel for the first time earned the lead 4-2 when he held his serve in the fifth and broke Toshiaki in the sixth.

Toshiaki did not give up the chase and responded quickly by breaking Aqeel, who had also two double faults, in the seventh.

Holding his next serve Toshiaki restored the parity 4-4.

But Aqeel, who was off-colour in the first,at that moment was looking formidable to make it 5-4.

In the 10th game, Toshiaki while trying to save his serve became dejected at a crucial stage 40-40 and that proved a turning point of the match.

Toshiaki appeared frustrated when his claim for an on the line return was rejected by the chair umpire.

He shouted for the point again and again. After that, Toshiaki could not play with full potential as Aqeel restored the parity 1-1 by breaking his serve.

Aqeel kept the pressure on the Japanese in the third set and soon was 3-0 ahead by breaking his opponent in the second game.

Aqeel was again near breaking his rival in the fourth game. He was leading 30-0 but Toshiaki with the help of an ace and two winners surged ahead 40-30, before Aqeel lost the opportunity of breaking the serve after hitting the ball into the net.

Aqeel managed to get a wide lead of 4-1 by winning the fifth game. Here Toshiaki needed medical aid but he lost the set when Aqeel broke his serve in the ninth game in great style at 40-0.

Later, Aqeel said that he had done a lot of missing in the first set, but he had faith in his abilities and soon recovered well.

" Toshiaki is a dangerous rival and you have to give full concentration to the game otherwise the situation is not in your favour", Aqeel said.

Toshiaki remarked that Aqeel was a tough nut to crack.

"Aqeel has the ability to control the situation and he makes an impressive comeback," Toshiaki pointed out.