LAHORE: Due to the first winter rain in the city on Tuesday, only seven matches could be held on the first day of the All-Pakistan Open Tennis Championships at the PLTA courts here on Tuesday.

National champion Aqeel Khan moved ahead after inflicting a crushing defeat over Ejaz Ahmad Khan with the score-line of 6-2, 6-2. Shahzad Khan also brushed aside Israr Gul 6-2, 6-3, while Muzamil Murtaza had easy sailing against Ahmad Babar 6-1, 6-4.

Abdul Haider fought hard to topple M Waqas Malik in two setters, which ran closely. After Haider won the first set 7-5, the next one proved a hard nut to crack for him as it went to a tie-breaker. However, Haider held his nerves and won it to oust Waqas from the main round.

In the only three-set encounter, Yousuf Khan struggled to eliminate Shehzad 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Results:

Aqeel Khan beat Ejaz Ahmad Khan 6-2, 6-2; Shehzad Khan beat Israr Gul 6-2, 6-3; Muzamil Murtaza beat Ahmad Babar 6-1, 6-4; Abdaal Haider beat M Waqas Malik 7-5, 7-6; Usman Rafique beat Faizan Khurram 6-3, 6-4; Heera Ashiq beat Ahmad Kamil 6-2, 6-1 and Yousaf Khan beat Shehzad 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

The city received its first winter rain on Tuesday, thus removing the smog which had been gripping the city for the last three weeks.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2017