ISLAMABAD, Oct 23: Eighth seed Alekseenko Vadim (Ukraine), and unseeded Abdukhalikov Syrym (Kazakhstan) will vie for top honours in the men’s singles final of the ITF Pakistan Futures International Tennis Championships 2008 (F2) after winning their respective semi-finals at the PTF Tennis Complex on Thursday.

In the first semi-final eighth seed, Vadim created an upset defeating the third seed and winner of first leg of ITF Mikhail Vasiliev (Russia) in a well contested thrilling three set match. Vasiliev built up the lead 4-2 by breaking Vadim’s fifth game of the first set.

Vadim, levelled the score 4-4 breaking Vasiliev’s eighth game. The score went up 6-6 as both the players held their respective serves. The first set decided on tie break was fought neck n’ neck and the score reached 9-9 at this stage Alkessenko hit out and then Vasiliev won the tie break at 11-9 by hitting ace.

Alkeseenko changed the strategy in the second set and started attacking the net and won the second set 6-2 breaking Vasiliev’s fifth and seventh game.

Vadim, kept up the same pressure and won the third set 6-2 in the same fashion.

In the second semi-final Syrym proved too good for Partick Taubert (Germany).

Syrym kept Taubert on run throughout the match with his powerful back hand, forehand drives from the base line. He built up the winning lead 3-0 breaking the second game of Taubert at 30-40 and then won the first set at 6-3. The Kazakh won the second set 6-0 without conceding a single game.

Results:

Men’s singles semi-finals: Abdukhaliklov Syrym (Kazakhstan) bt Taubert Patrick (Germany) 6-3 6-0; Alekseenko Vidam (Ukraine) bt Vasiliev Mikhail (Russia) 6-7(9) 6-2 6-2.