Shoaib, Aqeel enter Memorial Tennis semis.

Byline: Mohsin Ali

ISLAMABAD -- Mohammad Shoaib defeated Heera Ashiq in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the 5th Begum Kalsoom Saifullah Memorial National Ranking Tennis Championship 2020 here at Senator Dilawar Abbas PTF Tennis Complex on Friday.

In the first set, Shoaib struggled to adjust against experienced Heera, as both the players managed to hold onto their respective serves and the first set went into tiebreak. However, Shoaib managed to overcome his opponent and won the set 7-6. Shoaib continued with his heroics in the second set, as he was increasing pressure on his opponent. His passing shots, serves and returns were too hot to handle for Heera. He managed to break the 10th serve of his rival and took the second set 6-4 to book his place in the semifinals.

Tennis star Aqeel Khan survived a very close scare and came from behind to beat Yusuf Khalil 2-1, as he lost the first set 6-7 (4) on tie break before bouncing back and winning the second and third sets with the margins of 6-0 and 6-1. In the other men's singles matches, second seed Muzammil Murtaza thrashed Barkatullah, 6-0 and 6-3, while Mohammad Abid outclassed Mudassar Murtaza, 6-2 and 6-4.

Mahin Aftab made another upset in the ladies semifinal by ousting top seed Sara Mansoor in straight sets. Mahin was recently recovered from wrist injury, which had kept her out of tennis for around one year. Both the players showed tremendous fighting skills in the first set. However, Mahin prevailed and managed to break the 12th game of Sara to win the set 7-5. Sara could not continue in the second set due to illness and eventually conceded the match. Sarah Mehboob Khan beat Noor Malik of ZTBL with the margins of 6-2 and 6-1 in the second ladies singles semifinal.

In the men's doubles quarterfinals, M Abid/Waqas Malik w/o Shakir Ullah/Abbas Khan, Ahmed Chaudhry/Barkatullah beat Yousaf Khalil/Heera Ashiq, 6-3 and 6-4, and Mudassar Murtaza/M Shoaib defeated Imran Bhatti/Mian Bilal, 6-1 and 6-1. In the boys U-18 quarterfinals, Hamid...