Aqeel survives Samir scare to enter final

KARACHI: Top-seed Aqeel Khan defeated Samir Iftikhar as the Pakistan number one rallied back to overcome the rising star as he marched into the final of the National Clay Court Tennis Championship at the PTF Complex in Islamabad.

Aqeel, who faced little difficulty in the event, met his match in Samir after he was stunned by the teenager in the first set 6-3, scoring most of the points from baseline.

Aqeel then used all his experience to get rid of the promising youngster and claimed the next two sets 6-2, 6-4 to enter the final.

Aqeel will face his younger brother and Davis Cup teammate Jalil Khan, who outclassed Tanveer Aashiq 6-4, 6-3 in the other semi-final.

In the meantime, both the brothers had earlier lifted the men’s doubles trophy after beating Hamidul Haq and Abid Ali 6-3, 6-1 in the final.

In the ladies singles event, Saba Aziz and Ushna Suhail will vie for top honours after both won their respective semi-finals.

Saba defeated Sara Mansoor 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 while Ushna sailed past Sara Mehboob 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2010.