November 09, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 27, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 8: Second seed Ashutosh Singh of India ousted Pakistan’s lone hope Aqeel Khan in a nail-biting quarter-final of the ITF Pakistan F3 Futures tennis championship at the Cosmopolitan Club courts on Thursday.

Ashutosh fought for two hours and 45 minutes to grab ascendancy against local favourite Aqeel with the scores being 6-4, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4).

Aqeel, who won the last edition of the competition, worked hard to overcome the favourite player but it was not his day.

Ashutosh won the first set after breaking Aqeel in the seventh game to gain 4-3 lead. From thereon, both held their services as the Indian gained a 1-0 lead.

In the second set, however, Aqeel engaged Ashutosh in long rallies and, holding their service, both entered the tie breaker. Aqeel after several ups and downs, won the set to level the match.

Both the players returned back to the court with great determination for the third and crucial set. Holding their service at one point for another tie-breaker, both the players fought fiercely but Ashutosh emerged taller to seal the fate of the match.

In the other quarter-final, another Indian, the third seeded Sunil Kumar entered the semi-final after beating compatriot Divij Sharan, the fifth seed, with scores of 6-3, 6-1.

Top seed Adam Vejmelka cruised into the last four after defeating Vivek Shokeen (India) 6-1, 6-4. Fourth seed Victor Bogdan of Roumania proved too good for Lee Hsin Han who is the 8th seed, to win 6-4, 6-4 and complete the semi-final line.

Ashutosh besides beating local hero Aqeel, had another feat to celebrate when he paired with Vivek to win the doubles final against Adam-Victor. Top seed pair of Vivek and Ashutosh completed the win against the second seed duo 6-2, 6-4.

In the singles semi-final, Adam will play Sunil while Victor will take on Ashutosh.