LAHORE, Aug 20: Pakistanis, top-seed Aqeel Khan and unseeded Nomi Qamar, Italian Tomaaso Sanna and Japanese Sakai Toshiaki cruised into the semifinals of the second leg of the ITF Satellite Circuit tennis championship at Model Town Sports Club on Friday.

Aqeel meets Nomi and Sanna faces Toshiaki on Saturday. Aqeel thrashed Mirko Pehar, an American in a one-sided match 6-3, 6-2 in only 23 minutes. He was aggressive from the word go and took a 3-0 lead as he broke Pehar's serve in the second. With a strong backhand he raced to complete the win after dropping three games.

In the second set, Aqeel returned more aggressive in form giving no chance to Pehar to settle down and won after conceding only two games. About his pre-final with Nomi, Aqeel later said although the quarterfinals were easier, it might prove a hard encounter with Nomi as both knew well each other's tactics.

Nomi in the second match, however, faced tough fight from lanky compatriot Asim Shafik. The diminutive Nomi fought for more than an hour to oust Asim 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5). Asim, who was more experienced than his rival, made a good start and won, after both opted to play baseline game.

But it proved just a consolation win for Asim as Nomi soon changed his technique and preferred to play near the net. In the end, he managed to level the score 1-1. But this did not dampen his spirits as he roared back in the third which stretched to a tie-breaker, in which Nomi conceded only five points before completing the win.

In the third match, Sanna outplayed Wasif Cheema (Pakistan) in straight sets 6-2, 6-3. The upcoming Wasif, who had shown stamina by winning pre-quarterfinals and quarterfinals in a day could not settle down well against the Italian and became an easy prey.

Sakai ended Indian's hopes when he mauled Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan 6-1, 6-2 to make last four in the fourth quarterfinal. Aqeel and Nomi are to play their semifinals on grass court while Sanna and Sakai have opted for hard court.

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