Muzammil survives scare to reach semis

ISLAMABAD: Seeded players led by Pakistan No 1 Aqeel Khan made it to semi-finals of the men’s singles in the Serena Hotels National Ranking Tennis Championships following Friday’s quarter-finals here at the PTF Complex.

In what turned out to be an exciting last-four stage match, Muzammil Murtaza survived first set scare to beat spirited Mohammad Shoaib in a three-set match 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Muzammil took time to settle down and in the process lost his grip on the first set where he managed to concede one serve while Shoaib retained his set to go 1-0. Shoaib’s fighting spirit then started dying down. The rest of two sets were a mere formality for Muzammil, who managed easy points courtesy to his rasping fore and backhand shots.

Meanwhile, Sarah Meh­boob Khan edged out Ushna Suhail in a three-set thriller to make it to the final of women’s singles. Sarah won 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to set up final against Sara Mansoor, who defeated Mehek Khokhar in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.

Results: Men’s singles quarter-finals: Ahmed Chaudhary bt Shahzad Khan 6-4, 6-3; Heera Ashiq bt Muddassir Murtaza 6-3, 6-4; Muzammil Murtaza bt Mohammad Shoaib 4-6, 6-1, 6-1; Aqeel Khan bt Mohammad Abid 6-3, 6-2.

Ladies’ singles semi-finals: Sarah Mehboob Khan bt Ushna Suhail 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Sara Mansoor bt Mehek Khokhar 6-4, 6-1.

Boys’ 14 and Under singles: Bilal Asim bt Ahtesham Humyun 4-0, 4-0; Haider Ali Rizwan bt Asad Zaman 4-0, 4-1; Ahmed Nal bt Yahya Musa Luni 4-1, 4-1; Husnain Ali Rizwan bt M. Hamza Asim 1-4, 5-3, 4-2.

Under-12 boys’ and girls’ singles: Hamza Roman bt Nabeel Ali Qayum 4-1, 4-0; Ahtesham Humyun bt Zohaib A Malik 4-0, 4-1; Haniya Minhas bt Ali Zain 4-1, 4-2; Husnain Ali Rizwan bt Ameer Mazari 4-2, 4-1.

Under-10 boys’ and girls’ singles: Hamza Ali Rizwan bt Hammad Shah 4-0, 4-1.