LAHORE: In a stunning upset, Muzammil Murtaza downed Pakistan No. 1 Aqeel Khan in the men’s singles semi-final of the Sheheryar Malik Memorial Pakistan Open Tennis Championship here at the SBP Tennis Courts on Thursday.

In a flying start, the 23-year-old Muzammil comfortably won the opening set 6-1. Veteran Aqeel, 42, resisted the high-flying Muzammil but to no avail as the latter won the second set 6-2 and with it the match to set the final clash against Mohammad Shoaib, who overcame Barkatullah 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in a close last-four match.

In the ladies’ singles semi-finals, Noor Malik defeated Meheq Khokhar 6-4, 6-1 while Sarah Mehboob gave a 6-0, 6-1 lesson to young Sheeza Sajid.

In the men’s doubles quarter-finals, Heera Ashiq/Yousuf Khalil beat Imran Bhatti/Parbhat Kumar 3-6, 6-4, 10-5.

Earlier in the men’s doubles pre-quarterfinals, Bakir Ali and Mustafa Burney beat Inam Gul and Hasam Khan 6-4, 1-6, 10-8.

Former Davis Cupper and Pakistan coach Rashid Malik outsmarted Tanveer Haral 6-1, 6-4 in the seniors 50-plus singles semi-final.

In the seniors 45-plus doubles pre-quarterfinals, Israr Gul and Irfanullah outplayed the Umar Dilshad-Asghar duo 6-1, 6-1, Talha Waheed and Mehboob Waheed outclassed Col Awais and Shehzad Saleem 6-1, 6-1 while Ashar Khan and Adnan Khan overcame the Janan Khan-Gul Ahmed pair 6-4, 7-5.

Other results:

Seniors 35-plus doubles (quarter-finals): Talha Waheed/Tanveer Muneer bt Tariq Sadiq/Usman Rehmat 6-4, 6-2; Sheheryar Salamat/Kashif Masih bt Faisal Anwar/Hadi Hussain 6-1, 6-4; Arif Feroze/Israr Gul bt Shehzad PAF/Inam Gul 6-2, 6-2

Boys U-18 (quarter-finals): Bilal Asim bt Abdul Hanan Khan 6-0, 6-2; Hamid Israr bt Hasheesh Kumar 6-4, 6-2; Semi Zeb Khan bt Ahmed Nael 7-5, 7-5; Mahatir Mohammad bt Sheheryar Anees 5-7, 6-4, 6-3

Girls U-18 (quarter-finals): Ashtafila Arif bt Zainab Ali Naqvi 4-6, 6-2, 6-1; Sheeza Sajid bt Laiba Iqbal Khan 6-1, 6-0

Boys U-16 (pre-quarterfinals): Asad Zaman bt Ameer Mazari 6-1, 5-7, 10-6; Talha Khan bt Arman Kamran 6-4, 6-3; Abdul Basit beat Mohammad Uzair 6-2, 6-2; Shahsawar Khan bt M. Shaheer Khan 6-2, 6-0; Ahtesham Humayun bt Ameer Hamza 6-2, 6-0

Boys U-14 (quarter-finals): Hamza Roman bt Abdul Basit 7-5, 6-4; Amir Mazari bt Nabeel Qayum 6-0, 6-4; Zohaib Afzal Malik bt M. Sohaan Noor 6-0, 6-2; Abubakar Talha bt Hamza Ali Rizwan 6-1, 6-3.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2022