LAHORE, March 23: Top guns — Aqeel Khan, Nomi Qamar, Jalil Khan and Asim Shafik —marched into the men’ single semifinals of All Pakistan Open tennis championship at the Bagah-i-Jinnah grass courts on Thursday. Favourite Aqeel had to face some resistance from his brother Yasir Khan, before winning 6-4, 7-5 in 35 minutes. After winning the first set easily, Aqeel conceded five points before overcoming Yasir.

Nomi outclassed Inam Gul 6-4, 6-4 while Jalil outplayed Mohammad Shafiq 7-5, 6-3.

Asim made the last four after Rashid Malik retired hurt in the second set. Asim won the first set 6-4 and was leading 2-1 in the second when Rashid quit.

Results:

Mens’ singles (quarterfinals): Aqeel Khan bt Yasir Khan 6-4, 7-5; Nomi Qamar bt Inam Gul 6-4, 6- 4; Jalil Khan bt M Shafiq 7-5, 6-3; Asim Shafik bt Rashid Malik 6-4, 2-1 (retired hurt).

Mens’ double (pre-quarterfinals): Umar Babar-Khurram Nazir bt Sadanul Haq-Sher Afghan 6-3, 6-3. Mehmood Khan-Inam Gul bt Arif Feroze-Ahmed Aslam 7-5, 6-1. Yasir Khan-Tanvir Ashiq bt Heera Ashiq-Asad 6-1. 6-1. Wasim Cheema-Munir Ashiq bt Saeedul Haq-Ayaz 6-3, 6-1; Nomi Qamar-M. Shafiq bt Umar Qureshi-Umar Butt 6-2, 6- 2; Rasheed Malik-Aqeel Khan bt M. Khalid-Asif Feroze 7-5, 7-5. Jamil Ahmad-Azeem Tiwana bt Usman Ijaz-Tanvir Munir 6-3, 6-4.

Boys U-17 (quarterfinals): Yasir Khan bt Abid Ali 6-4, 6-3; Khurram Nazir bt Heera Ashiq 6-2, 6-4; Umar Babar bt Usman Ijaz 7-5, 6-4; Tanvir Ashiq bt Ahmed Aslam 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Boys U-13 (quarterfinals): Sohail Raza bt Ahmed Babar 6-2, 6-0; Danish Ilyas bt Kisanul Haq 6-2, 6-2; M. Abid bt Adil 7-5, 6-4. Fizan Khurram bt Gibranul Haq 6-3, 6-2.

Ladies singles: Nazia Feroze bt Aiza Waheed 6-2, 6-1. Saba Aziz bt Ushna Sohail 6-2, 6-3; Sara Mehboob bt Shela Rehan 6-1, 6-1.

Girls U-17 (pre-quarterfinals): Nitasha Afridi bt Mahreen Izhar 6-0, 6-0; Ushna Sohail bt Asia Malik 6-4, 6-2.

Veteran’s doubles (Over-50): Khalid Ikram-Asad Niaz bt Asif Dar- Mehboob Khan 6-2, 6-1.