ISLAMABAD - Top seed Aqeel Khan, Yasir Khan, Ahmed Ch, Shahzad Khan, Heera Ashiq, Muzammil Murtaza, Muzammil Murtaza and M Abid Thursday entered the quarterfinals of the 2nd Benazir Bhutto (Shaheed) International Tennis Championship 2016 being played here at the Islamabad Tennis Complex.

The management of Islamabad Tennis Complex, organising committee and Senator Taj Haider deeply condoled the sad demise of all PIA passengers, including well-known religious figure Junaid Jamsheed and his wife, who died in plane crash in Abbottabad. Fatiha and special prayers were held at the ITC.

The best encounter of the day was played between Yasir Khan and Aman Attiqe which the former won 7-5, 7-6(4). The first set was a highly close affair as it went right down to the wire, as both players held on to their respective serves in the first 10 games. Yasir broke 11th game and then held his serve to win the first set 7-5.

The long rallies were witnessed in the second set, Yasir Khan built up the winning lead 5-2 by breaking 5th game of Aman, and got six match points at this stage but could not capitalize due to regular unforced errors. Aman came back into the match and levelled the score at 6-6, which forced the set to be decided on tiebreak. Yasir played well and won 7-4 to win the encounter.

In other men’s singles pre-quarterfinals, Aqeel Khan beat Israr Gul 6-2, 6-2; M Abid beat Jehanzeb Khan 6-2, 6-2; Shahzad Khan beat Asad M Khan 6-4, 6-4; Heera Ashiq beat Faizan Khurram 6-1, 6-2; Ahmed Ch beat Asadullah 6-2, 6-0; Muzammil Murtaza beat Abda Haider 6-2, 6-2; Mudassar Murtaza beat Shaheen Mehmood 6-4, 6-3.

In the men’s doubles quarterfinals, Aqeel Khan/Heera Ashiq beat Ijaz Khan/Abbas Khan 6-2, 6-2; M Abid/Usman Rafiq beat Shahid Afridi/Shaheen Mehmood 6-4, 6-2; Muzamil Murtaza/Mudassar Murtaza beat Asad M Khan/Fahad M Khan 6-2, 6-3; Shahzad Khan/Yasir Khan beat Faizan Khurram/Ahmed Ch 6-2 6-0.

In ladies singles quarterfinal, Ushna Suhail beat Arooba Shahhab 6-0, 6-0; Sara Mansoor beat Khunsha Babar 6-0, 6-1; Sarah Mahboob beat Esha Jawad 6-2, 6-3 to book berth in the semifinals while The fourth and last quarterfinal between Mehak Khokhar and Mahin Aftab will be played today (Friday).

In junior U-18 pre-quarterfinals, Sahibzada M Ali beat Ahmed Kamil 6-1, 7-6(4); M Shoaib beat Ahmed Asjad 3-6, 6-2, 6-4; Hafiz Arbab Ali  beat Subhan Bin Salik 6-2, 6-2; Asadullah beat Saad Abjad 6-1, 6-1; Abdail Haider beat Nalain Abbas 6-1, 6-0; Mzammil Murtaza beat Komail Zaidi 6-2, 2-0 (Retd.); Aman Attiqe beat Waleed Anwar 6-1, 6-1; Hamza Bin Rehan beat Semi Zeb 6-3, 0-6, 6-4.

In boy’s U-14 pre-quarterfinals, Hamza Roman beat M Huzafia Khan 4-2, 4-0; Sami Zeb beat M Talha Khan 4-0, 4-0; M Shoaib beat Abdul Wahab Anwar 4-2, 4-1; Nalain Abbas beat Ahsan Khan 4-0, 4-0. In boys’ U-10 quarterfinals, M Huzafia Khan beat Hamad Khan 4-0, 4-0; M Talha Khan beat Yahaya Musa Lui 4-0, 4-1; Hamza Roman beat Fatima Ali Raja 4-0, 4-0; Hamid Israr beat Ahmed Nael 4-2, 5-4.

In senior 45 plus doubles quarterfinals, Moinuddin/Nauman Aleem beat Dr Kashid/Hassan Baig 6-3, 6-1 and Sohail Kiani/Safdar Mehmood beat Lt Col Abjad/Col Shahid Raja 6-4, 6-2.