May 6, 2005	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1426

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KARACHI, May 5: Shahid Aziz and Baber Ali Khan moved into the final of the men’s doubles plus 35 category when they eliminated Iltifat and Azharuddin 6-2, 6-3, in the National Seniors tennis championship played on Thursday at Karachi Gymkhana. The winners picked up the first set 6-2 but had to work harder in the next before coming through 6-3 winners.

Earlier in the quarterfinals, Khawaja Masroor and Shaheen Minhas overcame Suhail Farid and Akhtar Aliman 6-4, 7-5. After losing the first set, Suhail and Akhtar were actually leading 3-1 the next, before Khawja and Shaheen got back into their strides with attacking cross court smashes coupled with some fine backhand returns to win the set and match 7-5.

In the men’s plus 45 doubles Fawad Ijaz Khan and Jaffer Hassan locked 1-1 with Ronnie Dubash and Yasin Dost Mohammad the previous evening, breezing through the final set to emerge 9-7, 5-7, 6-0 winners.

Then going on to meet the fancied combination of Tariq Sadozai and Shaheen Minhas, Fawad and Ijaz lost the first set in a cliffhanger 7-6, fought back magnificently breaking their opponents service to level the scores 1-1 with a 7-5 victory in the second set, only to bow out meekly in the decider 6-0.

Khawaja Masroor in tremendous form reached the final of the men’s singles plus 45, getting the better of Azheruddin 6-2, 6-1.

Also reaching the semifinal stage was Karim Gul Agha who had a tougher time on his hands before eliminating Masood 6-3, 6-2.

Following were the results:

Men’s singles plus 45 (quarterfinals): Khawaja Masroor beat Azheruddin 6-2, 6-1. Karim Gul Agha beat Masood 6-3, 6-2.

Men’s Doubles plus 45: Fawad Ijaz Khan and Jaffer Hassan beat Ronnie Dubash and Yasin Dost Mohammad 9-7, 5-7, 6-0. Tariq Sadozai and Shaheen Minhas beat Fawad Ijaz Khan and Jaffer Hassan 7-6 (7), 5-7, 6-0.

Men’s doubles plus 35 (quarterfinals)

Khawja Masroor and Shaheen Minhas beat Suhail Farid and Akhtar Aliman 6-4, 7-5.

Semi-finals

Shahid Aziz and Baber Ali Khan beat Iltifat and Azharuddin 6-2, 6-3.