The second seed outplayed the seventh seeded Italian with a brilliant return of serves and passing shots, and broke Alboneti’s serve twice in the fifth and seventh game and claimed the first set. The Italian fought back in the second set by holding serves till four games each, but Samir broke Alboneti with a magnificent shot at break point to lead 5-4 and held his serves two aces to seal the win. He will face now face Luxemburg’s Tom Diedrich in the finals.
“I played really well today and hope that I shall lift the ITF junior title,” said Samir. “I am really thankful to Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) for letting me represent Pakistan.”
Samir is a British-born Pakistani and has improved his ITF rankings from 3,012 to 314 in eight months. His next tournament will be the PTF National Tennis Championship that is starting from Aug 3.
“Unlike other players in ITF junior circuit he is travelling alone, without any coach to guide him because of limited funds,” Samir’s father and coach Tayyab Iftikhar told The Express Tribune, “He is the one behind the strategies during the matches. It is very important for him to play in Pakistan. Once he will play here, I hope the PTF will see his potential and will agree to sponsor him in the international tournaments.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2010.
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