ISLAMABAD, Dec 28: Brothers Nomanul Haq and Sadanul Haq advanced to the under-17 semifinals of the second Quaid-i-Azam Islamabad Open tennis championship on Wednesday with contrasting victories.
Top seed Noman did not have to exert much in a straight sets defeat of fifth seed Khursheed Abbasi whom he walloped 6-1, 6-2.
Noman’s younger brother Sadan, the national grass and claycourt champion, however dropped a set before scoring a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Gulfraz Ahmed.
Others qualifying for the semifinals in the under-17s were Syed Zain Abbas and Tabish Raza who scored straight wins over their opponents.
Zain, the sixth seed, upset third seeded Zulfiqar Ahmed 6-2, 6-0 while No. 2 seed Tabish Raza beat Talha Asif Dar 7-6 (3), 7-5.
Thursday’s semifinals will see Noman taking on Zain with Tabish playing Sadan.
In the men’s singles, top seed Aqeel Khan, still recovering from illness, started his campaign with a second round thrashing of Yaseen Khan 6-2, 6-0.
Saeedul Haq was also an easy winner against Taimur Ahmed picking up a 6-2, 6-2 win and it was also a cakewalk for third seed Mahmood Khan who dispatched Ghulam Rasool 6-2, 6-2.
Noman, also featuring in the men’s singles after his exploits in the under-17 category, led Azeem Khan 7-5 with the second set tied 1-1 when fading light prevented further play.
Jibranul Haq won the under-13s semifinal routing Hassan Javed 6- 1, 6-4 and will now play cousin Kashanul Haq who defeated Talal Asif Dar 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, in Thursday’s final.
Results:
Men’s singles second round: Aqeel Khan bt Yaseen Khan 6-2, 6-0, Saeedul Haq bt Lt. Taimur Mehmood 6-2, 6-2, Mehmood Khan bt Ghulam Rasool 6-2, 6-0, Nomanul Haq v Azeem Khan (Noman leading 7-5, second set 1-1 match unfinished).
Boys under-17 quarterfinals: Syed Zain Abbas bt Zulfiqar Ahmed 6- 2, 6-0, Tabish Raza bt Talha Asif Dar 7-6 (3), 7-5, Nomanul Haq bt Khursheed Abbasi 6-1, 6-2 Sadanul Haq bt Gulfraz Ahmed 4-6, 6- 3, 6-0 0.