KARACHI: Asad Zaman denied Mohammad Salar redemption with a commanding victory at the Ocean Siddiqsons National Juniors Tennis Championship while Romaisa Malik retained her Under-18 title here at the DA Creek Club on Sunday.

Asad’s victory comes on the heels of last week’s final, where he staged a stunning comeback to def­eat Mohammad Salar. A similar scenario unfolded again here at the Under-18 final, as Salar squan­dered a 5-2 lead and a set point in the decisive set.

“It’s a matter of losing focus in the crucial moments,” Salar told Dawn. “Asad is a methodical player, and he waits for you to make errors. I double-faulted on set point, which was a mistake I should’ve avoided.”

Asad, reflecting on his win, said, “I’m really thrilled with this victory. It feels great to have come out on top again.”

He noted that his previous encounters with Salar helped him prepare for the match.

“Having played Salar before, I knew what to expect. He’s a solid baseline player, but his game often plays into my strengths.”

In the opening set, Asad dominated Mohammad Salar 6-1, producing outstanding court positioning and executed precise returns. Asad’s knack for positioning himself in the perfect spots at the right moments frequently put Salar on the back-foot, dictating the pace of the entire set.

However, Salar seemed to be in charge in the second set, holding a 5-2 lead and was about to serve for the set. But a crucial double fault shifted the momentum to Asad, who then rallied to win the next games and forced a tie-break.

Asad dominated the tie-break, winning and sealing the final score at 6-1, 7-6(7-2).

In the girls Under-18 final, Romaisa triumphed once again over her long-time opponent Eschelle Asif, securing a straight-set victory 6-1, 6-1. This marks Romaisa’s third consecutive win over Eschelle in the finals.

“Her backhand, it’s just flawless right down the line, every single time. There’s nothing more to say, that’s all I can really highlight,” Eschelle told Dawn.

Romaisa, having secured the double crown, expressed her aspirations for the future.

“I’m excited about continuing my journey in tennis,” she said. “I’m determined to reach the highest level.”

Various title matches across different categories were also played, bringing the tournament to conclusion.

Results:

Boys Under-14: Rayyan bt Junaid Mehar 4-2, 5-3

Boys Under-12: Ayan bt Muaz 4-5, 5-3, 5-4(7)

Boys Under-10: Azan bt Arsy (Walkover)

Boys Under-18 doubles: Asad Zaman/M Yahya bt M Salar/Nabeel Qayum 6-3, 6-4

Boys Under-14 doubles: Zaid Zaman/Junaid Khan bt Waqas Janas/Rayan Khan 5-4, 5-4

Girls Under-18 doubles: Romaisa/Eschelle bt Deliah/Noor 6-3, 6-1

Girls Under-14: Romaisa bt Eman 4-0, 4-1

Girls Under-12: Eman Shahbaz bt Dua Yousuf 4-1, 4-0

Under-7 singles: Esha bt M. Arsh 10-8, 12-10.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2025