ISLAMABAD - Pakistani pair of Aqeel Khan and Shahzad Khan outpaced their Indian counterpart in the Begum Kulsum Us$15,000 ITF Futures men's double quarterfinals here at Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) Complex Friday.
Pakistani duo of Aqeel/Shahzad played superb tennis against Indian pair of Anuraq Nenwani/Jayesh Punglia and outlasted them 6-2, 6-1 to book berth in the semifinals. In other doubles quarterfinals, Russia pair of Shalva Dzhanashia and Ivan Nedelko thrashed India’s Kunal Anand and Jatin Dahiya 6-1, 6-1 and Russian-Ukrainian duo of Anton Chekhov and Alexander Lebedyn outclassed Dmitry Myagkov and Ivan Ponomarenko of Russia 6-0, 6-1.
In the men’s singles quarterfinals, top seed Russian Ivan Nedelko faced tough resistance in the first set from his German counterpart sixth seed Julian Onken but proved too good in the end to beat the German in straight sets 7-5, 6-1. Fourth seed Spaniard Pere Riba bowed out of the tournament due to injury. Although Riba was winning the match as he had won the first set 6-2 and was playing at 5-5 in the second set, when he retired hurt due to injury. In other men’s singles quarterfinals, Enrique Lopez-Perez of Spain overwhelmed Austrian Peter Goldsteiner 6-3, 6-1 while Shalva Dzhanashia of Russia routed country fellow Kristian Lozan 6-4, 6-2.
In the ladies singles quarterfinals, Pakistan’s international tennis player Ushna Suhail proved too hot for Gen Shahida Badshah as she thrashed her opponent 6-0, 6-0. Sara Mahboob taught tennis lesson to Nida Akram by thumping her 6-1, 6-0 while Mehwish Chishti defeated Esha Jawad 6-3, 6-4 and Sara Mansoor overpowered Shimza Naz Durab 6-1, 6-1. In juniors U-18 boys’ singles quarterfinals, Saqib Umar defeated Ahmed Kamil 6-3, 6-3, Aman Attique outpaced Nauman Aftab 6-2, 6-1, Harris Irfanul Haq thumped Hamza Bin Rehan 6-3, 6-3 and M Shoaib overwhelmed Amin Shafi 6-1, 6-0.
In boys U-14 singles quarterfinals, Sami Zeb beat Rayan Jawad 5-3, 4-0; Mahathir Muhammad got walk over against Hamza Jawad, Gavin Simpson trounced Hamid Israr 4-1, 4-1 and Uzair Khan beat Nalain Abbas 5-3, 5-3.
