Aqeel through to semi-finals

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top-seed Aqeel Khan has cruised into the sixth Pizza Hut Open Tennis Championship semi-finals by beating fifth-seed Imran Shouqat 6-3, 6-2. The fifth-seed had shown resolve in the first set at 3-2 but as the match progressed, the experienced Aqeel overcame Shoukat’s powerful groundstrokes and sealed a comfortable win in the end.

Aqeel will now take on his Davis Cup partner and the fourth-seed Nomi Qamar who defeated Umer Shahid 6-0,-6-1. “I knew Shouqat would give me tough time on the court,” Aqeel told The Express Tribune. “But I think his lack of experience on Karachi courts and the windy weather here went against him.” Meanwhile, Aqeel’s younger brothers – number two seed Jalil Khan and number three seed Yasir Khan – booked their semi-final clash against each other after defeating their competitors in the quarter-finals.

Yasir dictated Muhammad Abdul Saeed in a comprehensive 6-4, 6-0 win while Jalil struggled against Saif Noor Sumar in the first set before coming back strongly to win 6-7, 6-0 as his competitor was forced to withdraw from the match due to tiredness.