KARACHI, Nov 23: Top seed and former Davis Cupper Rashid Malik had his first taste of victory to advance into 35-plus singles semi-finals in the 15th Pakistan ITF seniors’ tennis championship at the Karachi Club on Wednesday.

Rashid, who has specially come from Lahore, is the only notable player competing in the event. He was home 6-0, 6-0 after getting a bye in the first round.

He was joined in the last four by Abdul Saeed, who won his second round match against Aly Panju in contrasting style. The former conceded the second set before bouncing back to win the third and decisive. The scores were 7-5, 1-6, 6-0.

At least nine players were benefited after getting a first round bye in the 45 plus singles which has a draw of 32-man.

Results: 35 plus singles: First round: Shabbir Gul (Hyderabad) bt Salman But 6-0, 6-0; Ejaz Sarhadi bt Rafi Derbari 7-6 (retd); Aly Panjo bt Salman Manya 6-2, 6-2; Imran Abubakar bt Mohammad Moazzam (walkover).

Quarter-finals: Mohammed Abdul Saeed bt Aly Panju 7-5, 1-6, 6-0; Rashid Malik (Lahore) bt Noman Fareed (Hyderabad) 6-0, 6-0.

45 plus singles: Qualifying round Saleem Siddiqui bt Dr. Nasir Laiq 6-4, 6-2; Mohammed Arif bt Afaq Zafar 2-6, 6-5 (retd).

First round: Ismail Sharif bt Anjum Nadeem (walkover); Akhter Aliman bt Shareefuddin (Sibbi) (walkover).

55 plus singles: First round: Zafar Hasan bt Naimatullah Behan 6-4, 6-3.