ISLAMABAD, Dec 27: Top seed Aqeel Khan dropped a set in his quarterfinal against Muhammad Shafiq Friday but recovered to earn a berth in the semifinals of the 4th All-Pakistan Sirajul Haq Memorial Open Tennis Championship.

Aqeel went through with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 win over his Lahore- based rival who put up a high quality show on the clay courts of the PTF Complex.

Others advancing to the pre-finals of the tournament were second seed Nomi Qamar, a 6-4, 6-4 winner against Aurangzeb Khan, Inam Gul who outplayed Saeedul Haq 6-0, 6-2 and Shahzad Khan, a 6-1, 6-4 conqueror of Shahzad Samad Khan.

In the boys under-18 singles, Shahzad Khan and Babar Ali qualified for Saturday’s final by scoring straight-set victories over their opponents.

Shahzad showed Munir Ashiq the door winning 4-0, 4-1 while Babar defeated Usman Ijaz 5-3, 5-3.

The girls under-18 final will pit Zara Omer against Rawalpindi’s Sara Mahboob. In the semis, Zara knocked out Anoosha Aslam 4-2, 4-0 and Sara eliminated Natasha Afridi in a well contested match 1-4, 4-2, 4-2.

RESULTS:

Men’s singles quarterfinals:

Aqeel Khan bt Muhammad Shafiq 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, Shahzad Khan bt Shahzad Samad Khan 6-1, 6- 4, Inam Gul bt Saeedul Haq 6-0, 6-2, Nomi Qamar bt Aurangzeb Khan 6-4, 6-4.

Boys under-18 singles semifinals:

Shahzad Khan bt Munir Ashiq 4-0, 4-1, Babar Ali Khan bt Usman Ijaz 5-3, 5-3

Girls under-18 singles semifinals:

Zara Omer bt Anoosha Aslam 4-2, 4-0, Sara Mahboob bt Natasha Afridi 1-4, 4-2, 4-2

Boys under-14 singles semifinals:

Tanveer Ashiq bt Tabish Raza 4-0, 5-4(7), Usman Ijaz bt Sheryar Niazi 5-3, 4-0

Girls under-14 singles semifinal:

Zehra Ali Khan bt Natasha Afridi 4-0, 4-2

Boys under-12 singles semifinals:

Ibrahim Omer bt Yousaf Ajam 4-1, 4-0, Tabish Raza bt Usama Chaudhry.

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