KARACHI, March 21: Sixteen-year-old Nasir Mushtaq created quite a stir in the Sindh ranking tennis tournament, when he sent third seed Mubashir Afridi packing after three gruelling sets played on Monday at the Karachi Gymkhana tennis courts.
The youngster appearing in the men’s singles lost the first set 3-6, but with some powerful service coupled with forceful forehand and backhand smashes, surprised Mubashir who surrendered the match losing the next two sets 4-6, 4-6.
Second seed Andan Khan survived a close call before winning his match against Asad Ali Bhagat, the Pakistan junior champion in 1995-96, also in three gruelling sets in a match that lasted two hours 45 minutes.
Asad playing some attacking tennis, won the first set easily 2-6, with everything going wrong for the left-handed second seed. Continuing to dominate the proceedings, Asad was 5-2 ahead in the second set and was serving for the match when disaster struck.
He broke the string on his racquet and although he changed over for another, he was unable to hold back the spiriuted challenge of Adnan who caught up at 5-5 and then 6-6. In another nailbiting finish, Adnan won the tie-breaker 7-5 which enabled him to breathe easier once again.
In the final frame the two players matched each other stroke for stroke and were dead heated at 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4. With three unforced errors Asad lost his service and Adnan making no mistake pounced in serving for the match.
Top seed M. Manzer of Karachi Gymkhana also survived a scare against former Sindh junior champion Eyhab Burki, who after playing some wonderful tennis was rather unlucky not to progress further, losing 3-6, 7-6(7-5), 7-6(7-6).
Also progressed to the next round was Khalid Ali Nazeer, who had to work hard in overcoming Nabeel Hoodbhoy.
Mubashir Afridi went through another gruelling performance in the juniors Under-17 event, before he came through successfully 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.
In the boys under-13 events, Zuhair Raza made short work of Ahsan 6-1, 6-0. Omer Baber also made progress, downing Sarmad 6-4, 6-1, while Tahir Ali Khan was awarded a walk-over against Sunny Williams, who failed to turn up at the venue for his match.
Khwaja Hamza was completely at ease against Sheryar in the boys under-11 event, winning his match 6-1, 6-0.
In the men’s doubles Asad Ali Bhaghat and lanky Saif Noor Soomar had to work overtime to finally get the better of the fighting combination of Ehyab Burki and Nasir Mushtaq 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
