Nedelko faces Lopez-Perez in Benazir Tennis final

ISLAMABAD: Talented Turkish youngster Ergi Kirkin just fall short of toppling No 1 seed as yet again the two best made it to the final of the Benazir Bhutto Future III at the Islamabad Tennis Complex Courts Friday.

The final of men’s singles on Sunday will see top seed Ivan Nedelko taking on the gutsy Enrique Lopez-Perez (Esp) for the title. The two were up against each other in Kulsum Saifullah Future II final and it would be a repeat of that match Sunday.

Kirkin on Friday snatched second set in the first semis from Ivan Nedelko (Rus) before losing the third and final set and with it the semis. The match could have gone either way as the youngster was unlucky to have lost the first set on tie break that went down to the wire.

While Kirkin was brilliant with his consistent clean game, Ivan Nedelko occasional forceful forehand won him many points. Kirkin was seen all over the Russian in the second set which he won easily to take the match into the third and deciding set. There however Nedelko used his experience to come winner with the help of forceful and consistent game.

“I had my chances in the match. The first set could have gone any way and possibly it was due to experience that Nedelko turned out winner,” Kirkin said.

Enrique Lopez-Perez (Esp) has no worries during his straight set win against Peter Goldsteiner (Aut) 6-1, 6-1. Possibly the best player seen on the Pakistani circuit this season Enrique Lopez-Perez (Esp) now waits for the Russian in the final. The Spanish player gave no opportunity to Austrian Peter Goldsteiner to even think of upsetting him with a resounding 6-1, 6-1 win. He would yet again start favourite for the title Sunday with good chances of winning the match in straight sets.

Ergi Kirkin (Tur)/Nikolay Vylegzhanin (Rus) were also unlucky to have lost the doubles semis against Enrique Lopez-Perez (Esp)/Kristian Lozan(Rus) bt Ergi Kirkin (Tur) in a hard fought super tie break thriller. The Spanish and Russian pair won 6-0, 4-6[10-6] to set up final against Gleb Alekseenko (Ukr)/Ivan Ponomarenko (Rus) who defeated Peter Goldsteiner (Aut)/Julian Onken (Ger) pair 6-0, 6-4. Doubles final will be played Saturday.

Results: Men’s singles semis: Ivan Nedelko (Rus) bt Ergi Kirkin (Tur) 7-6 (6), 2-6, 6-4; Enrique Lopez-Perez (Esp) bt Peter Goldsteiner (Aut) 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles semis: Gleb Alekseenko(Ukr)/Ivan Ponomarenko (Rus) bt Peter Goldsteiner (Aut)/Julian Onken (Ger) 6-0, 6-4; Enrique Lopez-Perez (Esp)/Kristian Lozan (Rus) bt Ergi Kirkin (Tur)/Nikolay Vylegzhanin (Rus) 6-0, 4-6 [10-6].