PESHAWAR: Pakistan No. 1 Aqeel Khan on Sunday took berth in the semi-finals after recording quarter-final victory against Mudassir in the men’s singles event at the Chief of the Air Staff Khyber Open Tennis Championship here at the PAF Officer Mess Tennis Courts.

Aqeel had an easy sailing in the first set wining it 6-1 but faced tough resistance at the hands of Mudassir in the second set. Nonetheless Aqeel, who has been in a great form and put Mudassir under tremendous pressure, finished the set with a 6-4 victory.

The experienced pro lauded the management for a fine preparation of the grassy courts which responded well despite overnight rain.

He said Mudassir is a good forehand and volley player and playing against him had compelled him to play with diligence.

On the other hand, Yasir Khan beat Lahore’s Usman Rafique 6-3, 6-2 in a one-sided affair. In the other matches, fifth-seeded Shehzad Khan upset fourth-seeded Hira Ashaq 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 with second seed Mohammad Abid beating Muzamil 6-3, 6-2 and moved into the semi-finals.

In the U-18 quarter-finals, Lahore’s Ahmad Kamil defeated Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kashif Khan 6-2, 6-1

while Amir Naseem beat Lahore’s Hafiz Arbab 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

In the U-14, Sami Zaib and Shayan moved into the semi-final after recording victories against their respective rivals in the quarter-finals.

In the first quarter-final, Sami beat Kashan Umar 6-2, 6-3, while Shayan defeated Hamid Israr 6-2, 6-4.

Hamza beat Uzair bin Abbas 6-2, 6-3 in the U-10 age group category with Hanif Khan overwhelming Esha Zubair 6-2, 6-2 while Taimur beat Shayan 6-1 6-2 to move into the semi-finals.

In the only match of the veteran’s doubles, Gul Hameed and Shamraz Khan duo defeated Dr Farhat and Rahimullah Khan Ghandapur 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2017