June 13, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 08, 1429

KARACHI, June 12: Hyderabad’s ace player Saad Baloch pulled off a major upset when he knocked out top seed Robin Das from Karachi in straight sets to reach men’s singles last four in the Hyderabad Open tennis championship at Hyderabad gymkhana on Thursday.

According to results made available here, Saad who helped Hyderabad clinched team event gold in this year’s Sindh Games at Sukkur, was home 6-3, 6-1.

He is slated to meet Naseem who in the other encounter got the better of Hussain 6-4, 6-2.

Abdul Saeed faces Majeed in the other semi-final after they notched up convincing wins over their opponents. The former beat Abid Shah 6-0, 6-1 while the latter inflicted 6-2, 6-2 defeat on Anas.

The juniors’ under-17 singles has also reached the semi-final stage. Those who propelled into last four are Zubaid Gul, Hussain Aziz, Anas and Uzair.

Some half-a-dozen Karachi players are competing in the event which concludes on Sunday.

Results:

Boys’ under-11 singles: Saeed walkover Khizer.

Boys’ under-13 singles: Hamza bt farhan 6-1, 6-7(4-7), 6-3.

Boys’ under-15 singles: Asfandyar bt Khizer 6-1, 6-2.

Juniors’ under-17 singles (quarter-finals): Zubaid Gul bt Asfandyar 6-1, 6-1; Anas bt Hassan 6-2, 6-2; Uzair bt Muneeb 4-6, 6-0, 6-2; Hussain Aziz bt Wasil 6-1, 6-1.

Men’s singles (quarter-finals): Saad Baloch bt Robin Das 6-3, 6-1; Abdul Saeed bt Abid Shah 6-0, 6-1; Naseem bt Hussain 6-4, 6-2; Majeed bt Anas 6-2, 6-2.

Friday’s fixtures:

Men’s singles semi-finals at 9.00am; juniors’ under-17 singles semi-finals at 10.30am; boys’ under-11 final 1.00pm; boys’ under-13 final 3.00pm; boys’ under-15 final 5.00pm.—Sports Correspondent