Kulsum National Tennis: Shoaib continues his giant-killing run

Our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: Muhammad Shoaib continued his giant-killing run as he disposed of Heera Ashiq to check into the semifinals of the 5th Begum Kulsum Saifullah Khan National Ranking Tennis Tournament here at the PTF Complex on Friday.

In Friday’s men’s singles quarter-finals, Shoiab survived some anxious time in the first set to beat higher ranked Heera 7-6(4), 6-4. After winning the first set in a tie break, Shoaib looked more aggressive in the second winning it with on break.

Shoaib’s sizzling forehand shots had no answer as his much experience player was counting only on his opponent’s miss hits.

In another quarterfinals, ageing Aqeel Khan lost the opening set before beating Yusuf Khalil 6-7(4), 6-0, 6-1. Yousaf unsettled No 1 player at the outset winning the first before losing the next two in totally one-sided affair. Mohammad Abid was also on fine form beating Mudassir Murtaza: 6-2, 6-4.

In the women’s singles semis, Mahin Aftab emerged the winner upsetting top-seeded Sara Mansoor 7-5 (rtd). Mahin won a tight first set, and was awarded the match when Sara conceded due to illness.

Anwar Saifullah Khan, former Federal Minister, Parliamentarian, and former President Pakistan Tennis Federation, visited the PTF Complex and witnessed some of the matches and also interacted with the players and their parents. He also appreciated the hard work of the players and the organizing committee for conducting the event in a highly professional manner.

Results: Men’s singles (quarterfinals): M. Shoaib bt Heera Ashiq 7-6(4), 6-4; Muzammil Murtaza bt Barkatullah 6-0, 6-3; Aqeel Khan bt Yusuf Khalil 6-7(4), 6-0, 6-1; Mohammad Abid bt Mudassir Murtaza 6-2, 6-4.

Men’s doubles (quarterfinals): M Abi/Waqas Malik w/o Shakirullah/Abbas Khan; Ahmed Chudhary/Barkatullah bt Yousaf Khalil/Heera Ashiq 6-3, 6-4; Mudassir Murtaza/M.Shoaib bt Imran Bhatti/Mian Bilal: 6-1, 6-1

Ladies singles (semis): Sarah Mahboob Khan bt Noor Malik (ZTBL) 6-2, 6-1; Mahin Aftab bt Sara Mansoor 7-5(retd).

Boys’ under-18 (quarter-finals0: Hamid Israr bt Aqib Hayat 7-5, 6-4. Subhan bin Salik bt Mahatir Muhammad 6-3, 6-2; Hashish Kumar bt Faizan Fayyaz 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; M. Shoaib bt Nalyn Abbas 6-3, 6-2.

Boys’ under-14 singles (quarter-finals): Haider Ali Rizwan bt Hussnain Ali Rizwan 4-2. 4-2; Yahya Musa Luni bt Saim Shahzad 4-0, 4-0; Bilal Asim bt Asad Zaman 4-0, 4-0; Shahsawar bt M. Hamza Asim 4-1, 4-5(5), 4-1.