LAHORE, Nov 3: Top seed Aqeel Khan clinched the National grass court tennis championship title after beating second seed Asim Shafik in a closely contested five setters men’s singles final at the Punjab Coaching Centre, at Bagh-i-Jinnah Sunday.

Aqeel notched up victory with score line of 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 after three hours battle.

Aqeel completed his win by giving Asim a double shock. At the match point, Asim in an attempt to return a difficult shot not only failed to do so but also twisted his left ankle and injured himself.

The well experienced Aqeel could have won final in the fourth set. Aqeel entered the fourth set with 2-1 lead. Tied at 5-5, Aqeel was on the verge of breaking Asim’s service in the 11th game by leading it at 40-15. But Asim not only saved that game after one deuce, but also broke Aqeel in next game to level score 2-2, leaving the result on the final set.

Asim, undoubtedly played a superior game and never allowed Aqeel to let down his guard even for a moment. Aqeel made good use of his forehands to smash the ball harshly. His ground strokes and lob shots were also excellent. Asim’s drop shots and the baseline game was impressive.

Aqeel hit seven aces but committed five double faults. Asim earned five aces and also did five double faults.

Keeping their services, both were tied at 6-6 in first set and entered the tie-breaker. Aqeel won 7-4 after being locked at 2-all at one stage.

Asim restored the parity by winning second set, breaking Aqeel’s services in 2nd, 4th and the 8th games. Aqeel also broke Asim in 1st and the 7th games. When Asim was leading the set at 5-3, Aqeel after failing in returning a drop shot at 15-40, disappointed and threw away his racquet forcibly in frustration. After three deuce, Asim won that game and set too to make the score 1-1.

Aqeel again got lead (2-1) by winning third set at 6-3. Holding their services, both went equal till 2-2. But Aqeel held his service in fifth to gain 3-2 lead and further developed it to 4-2 by breaking Asim in the next. Aqeel won set by holding his services in the seventh and the ninth games.

Asim again came back in final by winning fourth set to make the score 1-1.

In the decider set, Aqeel and Asim went neck and neck till 5- 5. Aqeel managed to break Asim serve in the 11th game and then held his own to finish the three hour long fight.

Aqeel with main trophy also got a cash prize of Rs 25,000. Asim pocketed Rs 15,000.

Top seed Sylvia Lokollo (Indonesia) won ladies’singles title, defeating second seed Marium Rahim 6-0, 3-6, 6-2. Sylvia who is receiving training in Pakistan by Davis Cupper Hameedul Haq, was suffering from back pain. Despite it, she earned impressive win in final after fighting one hour and 45 minutes.

Lokollo, besides a trophy also awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000. Mariam received a purse of Rs 8,000.

Top seed Shahzad Khan made short work of Munir Ashiq to win Boys Under-18 final which lasted one hour. Shahzad disposed of Munir 6-0,6-2 to get a trophy and cash prize of Rs 5,000. Munir got Rs 3,000.

Fifth seed Omer Babar upset top seed Tanvir Ashik to win Boys Under-14 title with score of 6-4, 6-1. Omer took one hour 20 minutes to earn a cash prize of Rs 4,000 and a trophy. Tanvir got Rs 2,000.