ISLAMABAD: Aqeel Khan, Muzammil Murtaza, Muhammad Shoaib and Mudassar Murtaza have moved into semifinals of 35th Federal Cup National Ranking Tennis Championships here at S Dilawar Abbas PTF Tennis Complex on Thursday.
Top seed Aqeel Khan faced little resistance from 8th Seed Barkatullah. In the opening set, Aqeel served and returned well to finish the set comfortably at 6-1. In the second set which was marked with aces and long rallies and the score went up to 5-5 all as both players held their respective serves, Aqeel broke the eleventh game of Barkat by hitting some winners down the line forced out Barkatullah in 7-5.
The 4th seed Muzammil Murtaza conveniently won his encounter against upcoming proficient Abdullah Adnan 6-2, 6-3. In his pursuit of victory he added his foot speed and top spin making him a force to be reckoned with.
The 6th Seed Mudassar Murtaza qualified for the semi final when 3rd seed Muhammad Abid retired hurt due to injury at 5-0 in the first set.
In another men’s singles quarterfinal Muhammad Shoaib toppled Yousaf Khalil in a one-sided affair 6-2, 6-1. Shoaib served and returned well easing his way to move into the semifinals.
The semi-finals would be played between Aqeel Khan Vs Muzammil Murtaza and Muhammad Shoaib Vs Mudassar on Friday.
In the Junior 18&Under category 6th Seed Muhammad Talha Khan, the upcoming proficient caused a major upset during the course of his quarter-final encounter with 2nd Seed Mahatir Muhammad Khan. In pursuit of his victory, he added his foot speed and topspin to make him a force to be reckoned with. M. Talha Khan managed to oust the 2nd seed 6-2, 6-2.
The top seed Bilal Asim struggled hard to win his match against 7th Seed M.Huzaifa Khan. In the opening set, Bilal served and returned well to finish the set at 6-4. In the second set both the players showed quality tennis and long rallies ultimately finished in favour of Bilal in the tie-break 7-6(6).
In Men’s Singles (quarterfinals), Aqeel Khan beat Barkatullah 6-1, 7-5: Muzammil Murtaza beat Abdullah Adnan 6-2, 6-3: Mudassar Murtaza beat Muhammad Abid 5-0 (Retd.): Muhammad Shoaib beat Yousaf Khalil 6-2, 6-3.
In Ladies Singles (quarterfinals), Sarah Mahboob was given a walk over against Amara Qadir, Esha Jawad was given a walk over against Sheeza Sajid, Amna Qayyum w/o Mehaq Khokar, Noor Malik beat Soha Ali 6-4, 6-4.
In Men’s Doubles quarterfinals, Muhammad Shoaib, Barkatullah beat Sami Zeb Khan, Abdullah Adnan 6-2, 7-6(3); Muzammil Murtaza, Mudassar Murtaza beat Bilal Asim, Mahatir Muhammad Khan 7-5, 6-4; M.Talha Khan, M.Huzaifa Khan beat Parbat Kumar, Baqar Ali 7-6(2), 6-2; Heera Ashiq, Yousaf Khalil was given a walk over against Hamid Israr, Ahmed Naeel Qureshi.
In Junior 18&Under Singles (Main Draw quarterfinals), Bilal Asim beat M.Huzaifa Khan 6-4, 7-6(6): Ahmed Nael Qureshi beat Hamid Israr 2-4(retd.): Sami Zeb Khan beat Muhammad Salar 6-2, 7-5: M.Talha Khan beat Mahatir Muhammad 6-2, 6-2.
In Boys & Girls 12&Under Singles (Main Draw), Abdur Rehman beat Muhammad Hassan Usmani 4-1, 3-5, 4-2: Ahmed Khan beat Muhammad Shakib 5-3, 4-2: Haziq Arejo beat M.Junaid Khan 4-0, 4-0: Hajra Suhail beat Ihsanullah Kabir 5-3, 5-3.
The semifinals and Doubles Final of Men’s would be held on Friday.
