Tennis: Aqeel crosses first hurdle at ITF event

Pakistan number one downs seventh-seeded Hungarian.

KARACHI: Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan got his campaign at the International Tennis federation (ITF) Futures men’s singles event off to a winning start, defeating seventh-seed Hungarian Gabor Csonka 6-3, 6-0 in Manama, Bahrain.

He defeated the 18-year-old Csonka in an hour to cruise into the second round where he will face Czech Republic’s Jan Blecha today.

“It’s a very competitive circuit and I’m trying to make a place for myself,” Aqeel told The Express tribune. “I’m getting the hang of the international matches. This is a different deal altogether compared to the Davis Cup matches.”

Aqeel has been unable to find a partner for the ongoing event in Bahrain.

“I still don’t have a doubles partner. Maqdas is partnering a countryman here but I’m not giving up. I’m talking to different players since I better take every opportunity to get ITF ranking points.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2012.