ISLAMABAD, Dec 30: Fourth seed Wasif Cheema will be up against top seed Aqeel Khan in Saturday’s final of the second Quaid-i-Azam Islamabad Open tennis championship after both scored fine semifinal victories on Friday.

Wasif picked up his ticket for the decider with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of 8th seed Ikramul Haq on the clay courts of the new Islamabad Tennis Complex.

Executing his strokes intelligently, Wasif was the dominant player although he was troubled a bit on the way by his opponent.

Aqeel was a man in a hurry as he swept aside Mahmood Khan, the tournament’s third seed, 6-2, 6-2 in the other semifinal.

Second seed Sara Mansoor of the host club was standing tall after knocking out top seed Natasha Afridi 6-0, 6-4 that earned her the ladies singles title.

Noumanul Haq, the No. 1 seed claimed the boys’ under-17 crown defeating his younger brother Sadanul Haq 6-4, 6-3 while the under-15 honours went to Syed Zain Abbas who scored a big upset to capture the title.

Zain, the 4th seed fought gallantly all through to edge No. 2 seed Tabish Raza 7-5, 7-6 (3) in a keenly-contested final.

Top seeds Mahmood Khan and Jahanzeb Khan emerged the champion team, scoring a 6-2, 6-3 victory over No. 2 seeds Ikramul Haq and Wasif Cheema in the men’s doubles final.

Ghulam Rasool and Musa Khan claimed the seniors (40 plus) doubles title beating Amir Malik and Brig. Rehan 6-4, 6-4.

Meanwhile with the tournament now coming to a close, no official of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) was present at the championship which goes to show the kind of interest the managers have in a sport they are supposed to patronise.

Results:

Men’s singles semifinals:

Wasif Cheema bt Ikramul Haq 6- 4, 6-4, Aqeel Khan bt Mahmood Khan 6-2, 6-2

Men’s doubles semifinals:

Mahmood Khan-Jahanzeb Khan bt Saeedul Haq-Azeem Khan 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Men’s doubles final: Mahmood Khan-Jahanzeb Khan bt Ikramul Haq-Wasif Cheema 6-2, 6-3.

Seniors 40 plus doubles final: Ghulam Rasool-Musa Khan bt Amir Malik-Brig Rehan 6-4, 6-4

Ladies singles final: Sara Mansoor bt Natasha Afridi 6-0, 6-4.

Boys’ under-17 final: Noumanul Haq bt Sadanul Haq 6-4, 6-3.

Boys’ under-15 final: Syed Zain Abas bt Tabish Raza 7-5, 7-6 (3).