KARACHI, July 11 A galaxy of players, mostly youth and men across the country, will show their prowess when the Pakistan Open Tennis Championship rolls off at the hard courts of Creek Club on Sunday.
The weeklong annual event which carries a total prize money of Rs2,59,000 is being held in the aftermath of Pakistan's poor showing against Philippines in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group II second round tie currently in progress in Manila.
Organisers claim to have received some 250 plus entries for various categories of events.
According to them, men's singles has attracted 106 entries forcing them to organise qualifying rounds. Sixteen qualifiers are to join 44 players directly placed in the main draw while top four have got a bye.
The top four are defending champion and top seed Aqeel Khan, second seed Jalil Khan, third seed Mohammad Abid Ali and fourth seed Nomi Qamar.
Contrary to men's, the ladies event has fewer entries — 11 — with Lahore's Ushna Sohail seeded on top followed by Lahore's Saba Aziz, the last year's runner up. Holder Sara Mahboob who beat Ushna 6-4, 6-3 to win Subh-e-Nau Ladies National Championship in Islamabad recently, is away from the country.
Promising Syed Zohair Raza tops the seeding in juniors' under-17 event. He is followed by Sadanul Haq (Islamabad) and Faizan Khurram (Lahore).
The formal opening of the event will be held at 6.30pm.
Sunday's fixtures
Boys' under-13 singles 9.00am; men's singles qualifying rounds 11.00am; men's singles first round 12.30pm; ladies singles first round 3.00pm.
