Aqeel Khan and Sara Mehboob emerge victorious at Pakistan Open
Pakistani local tennis players Sara Mehboob and Aqeel Khan managed to conclude the year with wins for themselves at the Pakistan Open Tennis Championship, when Mehboob shattered Ushna Sohail to win the title while Khan upset Faizan Khuram in straight sets.
The tournament was held in the Pakistan Tennis Federation Tennis Complex, as a bid to improve the image of the sport in the eyes of the Pakistani public. Since tennis pro Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi’s rise to fame, the country has made a significant effort to promote
tennis by offering young players the chance to hone their game and compete professionally.
At the 2010 Pakistan Open, Aqeel Khan managed to clinch the title for the men’s division with a skilful win over Khuram, in a match which ended swiftly at 6-3, 6-1. Their meeting was a show of unparalleled skill on Khan’s part.
On the women’s side, Sara Mehboob exhibited supreme control throughout the tournament. In the final against Ushna Sohail, although she lost the first set 3-6, she appeared in control afterwards. The player used forceful backhands and quick footwork to cruise
over the court. Her comeback was not unrewarded, and she took away the second set 6-4.
Mehboob continued her comeback into the third set, where she did not have to fight very long before Sohail retired from the match due to sustained injury at 1-0.
After lifting the title for the event, Mehboob spoke to Dawn reporters saying, “It was my 58th national title and I am confident of maintaining the same rhythm and performance in the future events. I played my natural game today and won, but Ushna
also played very well.”
In other news from the Pakistan Open, young tennis star Samir Iftikhar took away the under eighteen singles title after a straight sets victory over Heera Ashiq at 6-3, 6-7(0), 6-2. The under fourteen title went to Kashan-ul-Haq in a 5-4, 4-2 match against
Hasnain Manzoor. Azhar Abdul Qadir put away Marib Malik 4-0, 4-0 and won the under twelve title.
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