Ijaz downs India’s Jatin in Benazir Bhutto Tennis

ISLAMABAD: Local lad Ahmed Chaudhry comes to the party beating Jatin Dahiya (India) in three-set as the Benazir Bhutto International Future III rolled into action at the Islamabad Tennis Courts Monday.Ahmed came back strongly after losing the first set to beat Dahiya 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-1 to earn a place in the second round.

The first set turned out to be a thriller with both players failing to budge. While Choudhary was good at the baseline game, sending in occasional forehand winner, Dahiya’s consistent approach earned him many points. After losing the first set in the tiebreak, Ahmed Choudhary came roaring back, giving no opportunity to Indian to make a match out of it. He ultimately won losing just one point each in second and third set to win the match. “It was a bit uncertain as how Indian opponent would play. Once I saw his game I was confident that I could beat him,” Ahmad said after the match. Ahmad played his usual attacking game, making it difficult for his opponent to settle down.

“I mainly restored to attacking play. That turned out to be the main reason of my success.” Ahmad now faces a tough task in the second round where he faces one of the favourites Enrique Lopez-Perez (Spain) in the second round. Though Spaniard has yet to play the first round he in all probability would make it to next round. On Monday, Mohammad Abid faced defeat against Ergi Kirkin (Turkey) 6-1, 7-5. Pakistan main hopes Aqeel Khan and Samir Iftikhar will be seen in action on Tuesday.

Results: Men’s singles: Ivan Ponomarenko (RUS) bt Dimitry Myagkov (Rus) 2-6, 6-2, 6-1; Kristian Lozan (Rus) bt Gleb Alekseenko (Ukr) 6-1, 6-4; Ahmed Choudhary (Pak) bt Jatin Dahiya (Ind) 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-1; Ergi Kirkin (Tur) bt Muhammad Abid (Pak) 6-1, 7-5.

Doubles: Paramveer Singh Hara (Can)/Ajay Pruthvi Nemakal (Ind) bt Sikandar Hayat Qureshi (Pak/Hayat Saqib (Pak) 6-1, 6-3; Anurag Nenwani (Ind)/Jayesg Pungliya (Ind) bt Asad Mehmood Khan (Pak)/Fahad Mehmood Khan (Pak) 6-2, 4-0 (retd); Julian Onken (Ger)/Peter Goldsteiner (Aus) bt Muzammil Murtaza (Pak)/Luka Pavlovic (FRA) 6-4, 6-3; Gleb Alekseenko (Ukr)/Ivan Ponomarenko (Rus) bt Mohammad Wagas Malik (Can)/Mudassar Murtaza (Pak) 6-7(5), 6-2, 10-5; Ivan Nedelko (Rus)/Shalva Dzhanashiya (Rus) bt Kunal Anand (Ind)/Jatin Dahiya (Ind) 7-5, 6-3.