Unseeded Zehra stuns Saba

Published August 9, 2003

LAHORE, Aug 8: Unseeded Zehra Ali Khan caused an upset when she won the All Punjab Independence Day junior tennis tournament girls Under-18 singles title, defeating second seed Saba Aziz in the final at the Punjab Coaching Centre courts on Friday.

Zehra proved a herself a player of better stamina and with outstanding court coverage she finally outplayed Saba 6-3, 7-5.

Top seed Omer Babar annexed the Under-14 title, defeating Ahmad Aslam in the final 7-5, 6-3.

Ahmad had taken 5-3 lead as he started the first set in a forceful manner. Omer, however, got his act together and forced Ahmad to commit unforced errors and double faults.

The loss of first set appeared to have a mental effect on Ahmad and he lost the second set rather tamely.

The boys Under-12 and the girls Under-14 event also entered the final stages. The finals will be held on Sunday.

Results:

Boys singles U-12 (semifinals): Mohammad Waqas Malik bt Haider Zaidi 6-0, 6-2; Heera Ashiq bt Saad Mubarik 6-1, 6-2.

Boys singles U-14 (final): Omer Babar bt Ahmad Aslam 7-5, 6-3.

Girls singles U-18 (final): Zehra Ali Khan beat Saba Aziz 6-3, 7- 5.

Girls singles U-14 (semifinals): Zainab Kaleem bt Sana Ibrahim 6- 4, 6-2.