21-Feb-2012
The News
KARACHI: Aqeel Khan and two of his younger brothers marched into the men’s singles semifinals of the IC Trophy National Ranking Tennis Tournament here at the Karachi Gymkhana on Monday.
Aqeel, the reigning Pakistan number one, was in a businesslike mood as he wasted little time in blasting Zuhair Raza 6-0,6-0 in a mismatch. A key member of Pakistan’s Davis Cup squad, Aqeel played a pivotal role in their tough 3-2 triumph over Lebanon in the Asia-Oceania zone Group-I first round match in Beirut earlier this week.
His youngest sibling Yasir, also a member Pakistan’s Davis Cup squad, proved too good for Khurram Nazir, winning his quarterfinal encounter in straight sets. Jalil completed the hold of Khan brothers in the contest with a comfortable win against Usman Rafiq.
The only quarterfinal that went the full distance involved former Davis Cupper Nomi Qamar, who dropped a set before taming youngster Abid Mushtaq. Karachi girl Maheen Dada was in full flow in the last-eight stage of the ladies singles event as he thrashed Wania Khan in straight sets. In another one-sided encounter, Saba Aziz blanked Hajra while Iman Qureshi whitewashed Urooj Iltifat. Sara Mansoor completed the semifinal lineup after her opponent, Rubina Masum, retired because of injury.
Monday’s quarter-finals:
Mens’ singles: Aqeel Khan bt Zuhair Raza 6-0, 6-0; Nomi Qamar bt Abid Mushtaq 2-6, 6-4, 7-5; Yasir Khan beat Khurram Nazir 6-2, 6-4; Jalil Khan bt Usman Rafiq 6-2, 6-3.
Ladies singles: Saba Aziz bt Hajra 6-0, 6-0; Maheen Dada bt Wania Khan 6-0, 6-1; Iman Qureshi bt Urooj Iltifat 6-0, 6-0; Sara Mansoor bt Rubina Masum 4-0 rtd.
Boys’ under-18: Adil Kohari bt Malik Hamza 6-4, 6-1; Talha Zubair bt Haseeb Yaqoob 6-4, 1-6, 7-5. Go Mazher bt Saad Noor 7-5, 6-2.
Boys’ under-14: Nafil kalim bt marib malik 6-1, 6-0; Jalaluddin Baber bt Shahzil 6-1, 6-4; Dawer Rehan w/o Hasan Farooq; M Raza bt Nazif 7-5, 5-1 (rtd). |
