Benazir Int’l Tennis: Pak players fail to reach quarters

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani players made exit from the men’s singles event of the Benazir Bhutto International Future III Tennis as the quarterfinals line up was finalised at the Islamabad Tennis Complex Wednesday.

Ahmed Choudhary, Mohammad Abid Ali Akbar and Yasir Khan the three survivors in the second round, were beaten by their opponents. While Ahmad and Yasir was pitted against strong opponents, Abid Ali was never seen at his best losing to Indian Kunal Anand who is ranked 17th back home. Abid lost both sets 7-5, 7-5 in a match that he could have won had he been in better form.

Ahmad was beaten by title favourite Enrique Lopez-Perez (ESP). Even in defeat Ahmad shown the signs of brilliance and played relatively better tennis. However, Lopez was too strong an opponent and expecting Ahmad to beat the best in the business was asking too much.

Yasir also fell to top seed Ivan Nedelko who won 6-1, 6-0. The best match of the day, however, was played between Turkey’s Ergi Kirkin and Russia’s Kristian Lozan. Both teenagers were seen playing exciting tennis with Russian holding the fort at early stage, winning the first set at 6-3.

The fighting Turkish refused to budge, playing some high quality tennis to win the second. By the time, the match entered into third set, the Russian was showing signs of exhaustion and was not responding to the quality shots of his opponent with the same vein. He ultimately lost the third set at 6-2.

Ergi Kirkin who now has made it to the quarter-finals was excited at the result. “I started the match well by taking 3-0 lead in the first set but was unable to hold that lead. Even after losing the first set I knew well I had a chance as there was still lot of game left in me.”

Kirkin who had his mother on the sidelines supporting him said by the time match entered into third set, the Russian was not putting in his hundred percent. “I knew well I had a big opportunity which I grabbed and went on to win the third set and match.”

Results: Singles pre-quarterfinal: Enrique Lopez-Perez (ESP) bt Ahmed Choudhary (PAK) 6-1, 6-2; Julian Onken (GER) bt Luka Pavlovic (FRA) 6-1, 3-6, 6-3; Oleg Besednikov (RUS) bt Paramveer Singh Bajwa (IND) 7-6(7), 6-2; Kunal Anand (IND) bt Mohammad Abid Ali Akbar (PAK) 7-5,7-5; Ivan Nedelko (RUS) bt Yasir Khan (PAK) 6-1, 6-0; Shalva Dzhanashiya (RUS) bt Oleg Besednikov (Rus) 6-3, 6-2; Ergi Kirkin (TUR) bt Kristian Lozan (RUS) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Peter Goldsteiner (AUT) bt Ivan Ponomarenko (Rus) 6-2, 6-3; Anton Chekhov (Rus) bt Anurag Nenwani (IND) 7-5, 6-2. Doubles first round: Enrique Lopez-Perez (ESP)/Kristian Lozan (RUS) bt Heera Ashiq (Pak)/Malik Abdul Rehman (PAK) 6-3, 6-4.