ISLAMABAD: Promising youngster Ahmed Kamil caused a major upset on Friday by beating top seed Haktan Garayev of Azerbaijan in the boys singles semi-final of the Tajammul & Dilawar Abbas Memorial ITF Pakistan Junior Tennis Championship here at the PTF Complex.

He will face compatriot Mohammad Shoaib in the final. In the first semi-final of the day, 4th seed Ahmed made the major upset of the tournament when he eliminated top seed Garayev in a thrilling encounter that lasted two hours and 16 minutes.

Haktan won the first set 7-5 by breaking 12th game of Kamil at 0-40. Kamil changed the pace of game and won the second set 6-3 by breaking 3rd and 9th game of Haktan.

Kamil kept the same pressure in the final set and won 6-4 by breaking 4th and 8th game of Garayev.

Kamil proved his talent by showing excellent game of tennis and was very consistent from the baseline.

Earlier in morning session, Ahmed Kamil won his unfinished quarter-final (which was stopped on Thursday because of rain) against Aryan Giri (NEP) in a well contested two set match 7-5, 7-5. Whereas, in second semi-final, Mohammad Shoiab outclassed fellow player Subhan bin Salik convincingly 6-3, 6-0.

Meanwhile, top seed Dora Cheraghi (IRI and Bilur Gonlusen (TUR) won the Girls doubles title in a well contested two set final 6-4, 7-6(3).

Dorsa & Bilur took winning lead 4-0 by breaking 1st and 4th game of Leyla and Mina and in the second set all the players displayed excellent game of tennis and long rallies were witness during the match which was won by Dora & Bilur in a tie break.

The best encounter of the day played between Top Seed Haktan Garayev (AZE) and Souta Oomura (JPN) in the quarter final. Oomura build up the winning lead 4-1 by breaking 2nd and 4th in the first set but Haktan level the score 5-5all by breaking 7th and 9th game of Oomura and set decided in the tie break which won by Haktan at 7-5.

He hits some excellent ground strokes. In the second set score went up to 5-5all as both the players hold their respective serves; at this stage Oomura won the second set at 7-5 by breaking Haktan serve at 0-40 and level the match one set all.

Top seed Haktan won the final set at 6-2 by breaking 4th and 6th game of Oomura. The match lasted 2 hrs 20 minutes.

In the girls event Ren Ke (CHN) won her unfinished semi final in a well contested three set match 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 and qualified for the Girls singles final where she will meet Mina Togludemir (TUR) tomorrow (Saturday) at 10:00 AM.

In the boys doubles semi-finals Birtan Duran (TUR) / Kerem Ozlale (TUR) beat Min Hung Kao (TPE) / Araiz Malik (PAK) in a one sided affair 6-2, 6-1.In the second semi final of Boys between Muhammad Shoib (PAK) and Ahmed Kamil (PAK) and Iustin Belea (ROU) / Qwyn Quittne (AUS) is in progress.

In the girls doubles Leyla Nilufer Elmas (TUR) / Mina Toglukdemir (TUR) and Dors Cheraghi (IRI) / Bilur Gonlusen (TUR) moved in to the girls doubles final by winning their respective semi-finals in the morning session. Leyla Nilufer (TUR) / Mina Toglukdemir (TUR) struggle to win their semi-final in a well contested thrilling three set match.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2020