LAHORE, Oct 26: Defending champion Aqeel Khan defeated Tahir Iftikhar and Asim Shafik beat Nomi Qamar in straight sets to move into the men’s singles final of the 38th National Grass Court Tennis Championships at the Bagh-i-Jinnah on Friday.
Aqeel Khan won 6-4, 6-2, while Asim Shafik triumphed 6-2, 7-5.
The final will be held on Sunday.
A few players complained that they had to play their pre-quarter-finals and the quarter-finals on Friday with very little time for rest in between the matches. Shahrukh Niazi, who played in the Junior (4-18) singles was one of the players.
In the men’s singles semi-final, the top seed Aqeel Khan proved too good for Tahir Iftikhar. Aqeel excelled in serves and forceful backhand returns which found Tahir stranded. Aqeel broke Tahir’s service in the ninth game and held his serve to claim the first set 6-4.
Aqeel managed to break Tahir’s first serve in the first game of the second set. Aqeel also broke Tahir’s seventh serve winning the match at 6-2 to reach the final.
Asim Shafik broke Nomi Qamar’s service in the first game of the first set and then broke his service in the seventh game to win the set 6-2.
During the second set, both the players held their serves till it was 5-all. Asim Shafik broke Nomi’s service in the 11th game and held his serve to win the second set 7-5 to win the semi-final.
In a major upset of the day, Mohammad Khalid and Asif Feroze defeated No. 2 seeded Hameed-ul-Haq and Mahmood Khan to move into the men’s double’s final. Both the sets went to tie-breaks with Khalid and Asif winning 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-0).
On Saturday at 10 am, Shahzad Khan meets Munir Ashiq in the junior (4-18) singles semi-finals and Inam Gul and Mohammad Nadeem. In a hard-fought junior quarterfinal, Mohammad Nadeem recovered to beat Shahrukh Niazi 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
However three other quarter-finals other were decided in straight sets. Shahzad Khan beat Babar Ali at 6-2, 6-1, Munir Ashiq beat Gulzeb Niazi 6-3, 6-1 and Inam Gul defeated Said Mohammad Khan 6-0, 6-2.
In the boys’ (under-14) singles quarter-finals, Tanvir Ashiq and Khurrum Nazir were fully extended before they overcame their rivals. Tanvir beat Imran Rasool after losing the first set 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. Khurrum beat Shahid Arshad 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. Shehryar Niazi beat Yahya Khan (6-2, 6-0) and Kumail Hasan beat Tanvir Munir (6-3, 6-4) in straight sets.
Mariam Rahim defeated experienced Nausheen Ihtisham (mother of Aisam-ul-Haq) in straight sets 6-3, 6-2 in the first ladies’ singles semi-final. Mehvish Chishti also beat Shiza Ihtisham in straight sets 6-0, 6-2.
RESULTS WERE
Men’s singles (semi-finals):
Aqeel Khan bt Tahir Iftikhar 6-4, 6-2, Asim Shafik beat Nomi Qamar 6-2, 7-5.
Junior (under-18) singles quarter-finals Shahzad Khan bt Babar Ali 6-2, 6-1, Munir Ashiq bt Gulzeb Niazi 6-3, 6-1, Inam Gul beat Said Mohammad Khan 6-0, 6-2, Mohammad Nadeem beat Shahrukh Niazi 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Pre-quarter-finals: Gulzeb Niazi bt Tanveer Ashiq 3-6, 6-0, 6-2, Shahrukh Niazi bt Ashiq Rasool 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, Boys’ singles under-14 singles quarter-finals:
Tanvir Ashiq beat Imran Rasool 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, Shehryar Niazi beat Yahya Khan 6-2, 6-0, Kumail Hasan beat Tanvir Munir 6-3, 6-4, Khurrum Nazir beat Shahid Arshad 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.
Men’s doubles semi-final:
Mohammad Khalid and Asif Feroze beat Hameed-ul-Haq and Mahmood Khan (all WAPDA) 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/0).
Ladies’ singles (semi-finals): Mariam Rahim bt Nausheen Ihtisham 6-3, 6-2, Mehvish Chishti bt Shiza Ihtisham 6-0, 6-2.
Veterans’ doubles (55 years and above): Bashir Ahmad Gill and Sq.-Ldr. Naveed Najam bt Maj-Gen Mohammad Ashraf and Chaudhary Shafaat 6-3, 6-2.
Saturday,’s fixtures: Men’s doubles semi-finals, junior (4-18) singles semi-finals boys (under-14) singles semi-finals at 10 am, men’s doubles final at 2 pm, ladies singles final at 3 pm, veterans’ doubles (45 years and above) final and the veterans’ doubles (55 years and above) at 3.30 pm.