Tennis Master’s Cup: Aqeel sets up final showdown with Yasir

Pakistan’s top-seeded duo to clash in Islamabad today.

KARACHI:

The final of Pakistan Tennis Federation’s (PTF) inaugural Master’s Cup will see two of the country’s top players – Aqeel Khan and Yasir Khan – clash in Islamabad today.

Aqeel overcame Mohammad Abid 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 in the semi-final, while Yasir outplayed Pakistan number three Jalil Khan 6-2, 6-3 to book a place in the final.

The 23-year-old Yasir, ranked number two in the PTF rankings after Aqeel, is confident of beating his elder brother when they take on each other in the final today.

“I haven’t lost any match since my tour of Spain and Qatar in October,” Yasir told The Express Tribune. “I’m performing well and I just hope that I continue this good momentum in the final as well.”

Yasir said that the Master’s Cup was a good initiative and will encourage local talent to vie for top honours in the sport in Pakistan.

He added that the tournament served as an ideal platform to prepare for next month’s Davis Cup tie against Sri Lanka that will start from February 1. The national camp will begin tomorrow with Aqeel, Yasir and Abid while Aisamul Haq Qureshi will join the team in Colombo after the Australian Open.

“We needed more matches to practise and this was a good exercise right before the national camp. For us, it was the perfect preparation ahead of the Davis Cup tie with Sri Lanka.”

Meanwhile, Aqeel also agreed that the tournament had helped them in preparing for the Davis Cup.

“It was ideal, especially for younger players like Abid,” said Aqeel. “They benefitted more, since they do not get enough exposure by playing abroad and they have to depend on local tournaments to improve their game.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2013.