ISLAMABAD: Top-ranked Aqeel Khan along with three other seeded players -- Shahzad Khan, Muzammil Murtaza and Mohammad Abid -- reached the men’s singles semi-finals in the Federal Cup National Ranking Tennis Championships here at the PTF Tennis Complex on Thursday.

Fifth seed Muzammil, an upcoming youngster from South Punjab, registered a major upset when he ousted third seed Heera Ashiq 7-6(4), 7-6(5) in a closely contested quarter-final.

Muzammil now meets second seed Mohammad Abid of Lahore in the semi-final.

Earlier, Abid outplayed Aman Attique of Islamabad 6-0, 6-2 in a one-sided battle.

Top seed Aqeel outclassed Mohammad Shoaib 6-1, 6-1 in their last-eight clash. Aqeel in the semi-final faces fourth seed Shahzad who defeated Mudassir Murtaza 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Sara Mansoor, Sarah Mahboob, Noor Malik and Ushna Suhail qualified for the women’s singles semi-finals after winning their respective quarter-finals.

Second seed Ushna was in excellent touch during her encounter against Oreen Jasia as the former won the match 6-0, 6-0.

In other quarter-finals, top seed Sara Mansoor outgunned Mahvish Chishtie 6-2, 6-1; Sarah Mahboob blanked Mahnoor Sohail 6-0, 6-0 and Noor overcame Khunsha Babar 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

In the last-four phase, Sara Mansoor plays Sarah Mahboob while Noor locks horns with Ushna.

Yousuf Khan, Hamza bin Rehan, Talha bin Asif and Mohammad Shoaib made the boys U-18 singles semi-finals.

Unseeded Talha caused a major upset when got the better of third seed Asadullah Khan 6-1, 1-6, 6-2.

Results:

Men’s singles:

Quarter-finals: Aqeel Khan bt Mohammad Shoaib 6-1, 6-1; Shahzad Khan bt Mudassir Murtaza 6-4, 4-6, 6-2; Muzammil Murtaza bt Heera Ashiq 7-6(4), 7-6(5); Mohammad Abid bt Aman Attique Khan 6-0, 6-2

Junior U-18 singles:

Quarter-finals: Yousuf Khan bt Musa Chaudhry 6-4, 6-4; Hamza bin Rehan bt Ilham Khan 1-6, 7-5, 6-2; Talha bin Asif bt Asadullah 6-1, 1-6, 6-2; Mohammad Shoaib bt Nouman Aftab 6-2, 7-5

Boys U-14 singles:

Quarter-finals: Nalain Abbas bt Mohammad Mahatir 5-3, 4-2; Sameer Ahmed bt Kashif Khan 0-4, 4-2, 5-3; Hasheesh Kumar bt Zalan Khan 4-2, 4-2; Sami Zeb bt Abdul Samad Areejo 4-1, 4-1.

Women’s singles:

Quarter-finals: Sara Mansoor bt Mahvish Chishtie 6-2, 6-1; Sarah Mahboob bt Mahnoor Sohail 6-0, 6-0; Noor Malik bt Khunsha Babar 6-2, 4-6, 7-5; Ushna Suhail bt Oreen Jasia 6-0, 6-0

Boys and girls U-10 singles:

Quarter-finals: Hamza Roman bt Mohammad Haaziq Asim 4-0, 4-1; Azhar Abdullah bt Ammar Masood 4-0, 4-2; Jamal Shah bt Hammad Shah 5-3, 4-2; Zara Khan bt Uzair Masood 4-0, 4-0

Men’s doubles:

Quarter-finals: Shahzad Khan/Mohammad Usman Ejaz bt Mohammad Waqas Malik/Usman Rafiq 6-4, 6-4; Asadullah/Barkatullah bt Abdal Haider/Malik Abdul Rehman 1-6, 6-4, 12-10.

Published in Dawn, November 10th, 2017