LAHORE, May 3: Pakistan’s Aisam ul Haq Qureshi breezed into the semifinals of international Futures Tennis Championship defeating Ukrainian Sergey Stakhovsky 6-2, 6-2 at Andijan City of Uzbekistan, said a facsimile message received here Saturday.

Aisam hit the ball with a lethal touch and made Sergey look like a beginner. Sergey already caused the biggest upset of the championship by defeating the no.I seed Elgin Michail of Russia and went on to defeat the Georgian player Irakl Ushangishvil in the second round.

But quarterfinal against Aisam was an all together different experience. Aisam not only intimidated Sergey with his most powerful aces but also freely hit winning ground shots and finishing volleys.

Aisam broke Sergey’s serve repeatedly in both the sets to score a win fifty minutes.

In semi final Aisam will face a fierce challenge from the south African Jusstin Bower.

“It looks like I am gradually regaining my good old form with everyday passing by in this tournament I am hitting better and better. My legs are supporting me in moving around quickly and I hope to have still better results” said Aisam in a post match interview.

Later in the double quarterfinal Sergey had to again lick his wounds as Aisam and Elgin Michail of Russia routed Sergey and Lucas Robol of Czech Republic in straight sets with a score of 6-3,6-3.

They will clash against the Swiss/Cyprus duo of Marcos Baghdatis and Stephen Boli.—APP