LAHORE: While top seed Aqeel Khan moved into the second round, Huzaima Abdul Rehman upset third seed M Abid in straight sets as the EMB Pakistan Open Tennis Championship kicked off here at the Punjab Lawn Tennis Association courts in Bagh-i-Jinnah on Monday.

Aqeel was quick in completing a straight sets victory against Abdul Haider 6-2, 6-2 as the latter failed to show any resistance to the seasoned Aqeel throughout the match.

However, Huzaima not only gave tough time to Davis Cupper Abid, but also completed the victory in great style 6-2, 6-2.

In one of the close contests, upcoming Mudassir Murtaza edged out Waqas Malik 7-6, 7-6. Similarly, Hassan Riaz also struggled hard to oust Asadullah after beating him 7-6, 7-5.

Pakistan’s top player Aisam-ul-Haq was also expected to play in the tournament, which holds importance in the back-drop of the Pakistan’s for the upcoming Davis Cup fixture against India , but he is not featuring in any event.

Results:

Men’s singles (first round): M. Shoaib Khan bt Shakirullah 6-3, 6-2; Bilal Farooq bt M. Zubair 6-4, 6-1; Ijaz Ahmad bt Saqib Hayyat 6-4, 6-4; Yousaf Khalil bt Israr 6-3, 6-3; Heera Ashiq bt Faizan Khurram 6-0, 7-5; Ahmad Babar bt Ashir Ali Khan 6-0, 6-0; Hassan Riaz bt Asad Ullah 7-6 (5), 7-5; Sikander Hayyat bt Zaryab Pirzada 6-3, 6-3; Huzaima Abdul Rehman bt M. Abid 6-2, 6-2; Muzzamil Murtaza bt Aman Atiq 6-2, 6-3; Mudassir Murtaza bt Waqas Malik 7-6, 7-6; Yasir Khan bt Imran Bhatti 6-2, 6-3; Aqeel Khan bt Abdal Haider 6-2, 6-2; Ahmad Kamil bt M. Abdullah 6-2, 6-2; Ahmad Ch bt Nalain Abbas 6-1, 6-1.

Boys’ U-18: Ahmad Kamil bt Musa Haroon 6-2, 6-0; Kamran Khan bt Arham Khan 3-6, 6-1, 10-4; Harris Walha bt Saeed Suleman 6-0, 1-6, 10-5; M. Shoaib Khan bt Ithesham Arif 6-2, 6-3; M. Abdullah bt Hazaima Abdul Rehman 6-4, 2-6, 10-5; Kashan Omer bt Mahtir Mohammad 6-3, 3-6, 10-5; Bilal Asim bt Shahzaib Zahid 6-4, 6-4; Nalain Abbas bt Saheel Durab 6-3, 6-2; Faizan Shahid beat Hamza Jawad 6-3, 6-4; Hamid Israr bt Waleed Javed 6-2, 6-0; Zain Ch. bt Farman Shakeel 6-4, 6-4; Ifham Rana bt Osama Khan 6-1, 6-1; Hasheesh Kumar bt Abdul Hanan Khan 6-1, 6-4; Sami Zeb bt Ahmad Amir 6-0, 6-1.

Boys’ U-14: Asad Zaman bt Shehryar Anees 2-4, 4-2, 10-5; Huzaima Abdul Rehman bt Zaeem Ghafoor 4-0, 4-0.

35-plus doubles: Shehryar Salamat/Ali Asad bt Rana Humayun/Hassan Said 6-2, 6-3.

45 plus doubles: Brig. Manzoor/Gul Hameed bt Hamrqan Hassan/Tipu 6-3, 6-0.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2019