LAHORE, Dec 19: Abid Ali and Khurram Nazir were stretched to limits before winning their respective matches on the opening day of the I.C Open National Ranking tennis championship at Bagh-i-Jinnah courts on Tuesday.

Abid overcame the challenge of spirited Fayyaz Khan notching up 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory.

Fayyaz stunned Abid by winning the opener after breaking a serve in the 6th game. Abid, however, roared back and levelled the score (1-1) winning the second set 7-5 after breaking Fayyaz in the 3rd and the 7th game. Fayyaz had earlier beaten Abid in the second game.

Maintaining his pace of attacking game with sizzling forehand and lob shots, Abid won the decisive set and send Fayyaz packing.

Khurram also faced a strong contender in Haris Aziz before wrapping up 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 win in a 50-minute encounter.

Khurram has a cakewalk in the first set, dropping only one game to gain 1-0 lead. But Haris rode on his fine serve and blistering forehand shots staged a brilliant comeback winning the second set quite easily.

However, it was his first and last laugh as Khurram came out winner in the third in a great style to move into the second round.

Meanwhile, top seed Aqeel Khan who confirmed his participation late on Monday defeated Ahmad Hamad 6-2, 6-0 in just 20 minutes. Second seed Asim Shafik trounced Nasir Shirazi 6-2, 6-4 while seasoned Nomi Qamar registered an easy 6-2, 6-2 triumph over Arif Feroze.

Results:

Men's singles (1st round):

Tanveer Ashiq bt Tanveer Munir 6-4, 6-3; Inam Gul bt Masood Ahmed 6-2, 6-2; Khurram Nazir bt Haris Aziz 6-1, 3-6, 6-4; Umer Qayyum bt M. Babar 4-6, 6-3, 2-0 (retd); Nomi Qamar bt Arif Feroze 6-2, 6-2; Abid Ali bt Fayaz Khan 4-6, 7-5, 6-4; Rashid Malik bt Munir Ashiq 6-1, 6-4; Shehzad Khan bt Asif Feroz 6-3, 6-3; Mehmood Khan w/o Fahad Ali; Ahmed Aslam bt Shahzad 6-1, 6-1; Yasir Khan bt Nasir Mushtaq 7-6, 6-3; Asim Shafik bt Nasir Shirazi 6-2, 6-4; Aqeel Khan bt Ahmed Hamad 6-2, 6-0; Shafiq bt Aftab Anwar 6-3, 6-4.