Pakistan Open: Saba bags ladies title

Published July 18, 2009

KARACHI, July 17 Second seed Saba Aziz became the new ladies singles champion when she shocked top seed Ushna Suhail in straight sets in an all-Lahore final of the Pakistan Open Tennis Championship at Creek Club on Friday.

Saba accounted for Pakistan No 2 Ushna, runner up of Subh-e-Nau ladies championship to Sara Mahboob, 7-6, 6-3.

In yet another upset, sixth seed Yasir Khan stunned sibling Jalil Khan, the second seed, 7-5, 6-4 to advance into men's singles semi-final. Yasir faces Nomi Qamar who, in other encounter, overcame fighting Syed Zuhair Raza 6-2, 5-7, 7-6.

Country's top player Aqeel Khan, meanwhile, ended the winning run of Nasir Mushtaq imposing 6-2, 6-0 victory to enter the men's singles final.

Rising players Mustafa Zaidi and Adil Kohari toppled third seed Faizan Khurram and fourth seed Malik Abdul Rehman respectively to make it to the juniors' under-17 semis.

While the former struggled to beat Faizan 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, the latter got past Rehman 7-6, 7-6. Top seed Zuhair Raza and second seed Sadan-ul-Haq have completed the last four lineup.

Results

Ladies final Saba Aziz (Lahore) bt Ushna Sohail (Lahore) 7-6, 6-3.Men's singles quarter-finals Nomi Qamar bt Syed Zuhair Raza 6-2, 5-7, 7-6; Yasir Khan bt Jalil Khan 7-5, 6-4.

Semi-final Aqeel Khan bt Nasir Mushtaq 6-2, 6-0.

Juniors' under-17 singles quarter-finals Syed Zuhair Raza bt Omer Shahid 6-0, 6-2; Adl Kohari bt Malik Abdul Rehman 7-6, 7-6; Mustafa Zaidi bt Faizan Khurram 6-2, 2-6, 6-2; Sadan-ul-Haq bt Farhan Mustafa 6-1, 5-1 (retired).