ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s talented youngster Samir Iftikhar caused a major upset on Wednesday when he outclassed sixth seed Julian Onken of Germany to qualify for the quarter-final of the Serena Hotels ITF Futures here at the PTF Complex.

Samir, 25, while playing impressive tennis completely outplayed his better-placed opponent, registering an outstanding 6-1, 6-1 victory in the second round to make the last-eight phase.

Samir is the only Pakistani who, ranked 1543 before the start of this championship, and after this victory the player, according to PTF president Salim Saifullah, improved his ranking to join world’s 1000 top players.

Throughout the two sets, Samir, playing from the baseline kept his opponent engaged in long rallies featuring powerful serves and strokes, which could not be returned by the 29-year-old German, the world No.778.

Meanwhile, the other two Pakistan players — country’s No.2 Mohammad Abid and young Muzammil Murtaza lost their matches.

Fifth seed Shalva Dzhanashia of Russia defeated Abid 6-3, 6-3.

Though Ivan Nedelko, also of Russia, had to face some resistance from Muzam­mil but the local youngster eventually could not match the speed and experience of the top seed, who in the end comfortably won the battle 6-3, 6-4.

In men’s doubles, Pakistan No.1 Aqeel Khan pairing with Shahzad Khan cruised into the semi-finals as they easily defeated Tajikistan’s Fariduni Bakhodur partnering Roy Hobbs of Singapore 6-1, 6-2.

Results (prefix number denotes seeding):

Men’s singles:

Second round: 1-Ivan Nedelko (Russia) bt Muzammil Murtaza (Pakistan) 6-3, 6-4; 7-Peter Goldsteiner (Austria) bt Kelsey Stevenson (Canada) 6-2, 6-2; 3-Kristian Lozan (Russia) bt Gleb Alekseenko (Ukraine) 6-1, 6-2; 8-Alexander Lebedyn (Ukraine) bt Oleg Besednikov (Russia) 6-0, 6-2; Samir Iftikhar (Pakistan) bt 6-Julian Onken (Germany) 6-1, 6-1; 4-Pere Riba (Spain) bt Roy Hobbs (Singapore) 6-1, 6-0; 5-Shalva Dzhanashia (Russia) bt Mohammad Abid (Pakistan) 6-3, 6-3; 2-David Perez Sanz (Spain) bt Nikolay Vylegzhanin (Russia) 6-1, 6-3.

Men’s doubles:

Quarter-finals: 1-David Perez Sanz (Spain)/Kelsey Stevenson (Canada) bt Oleg Besednikov (Russia)/Alexander Lebedyn (Ukraine) 6-0, 6-2; Aqeel Khan (Pakistan)/Shahzad Khan (Pakistan) bt Fariduni Bakhodur (Tajikistan)/Roy Hobbs (Singapore) 6-1, 6-2; Luka Pavlovic (France)/Pere Riba (Spain) bt Vadim Alekseenko (Ukraine)/Nikolay Vylegzhanin (Russia) 6-1, 3-6, [11-9]; 2-Peter Goldsteiner (Austria)/Julian Onken (Germany) bt Asad Kabir (Afghanistan)/Yousuf Khalil (Pakistan) 6-1, 6-4.

Published in Dawn, December 7th, 2017