Islamabad :
The 36th Federal Cup National Ranking Tennis Championships was indeed a joy to have professional tennis at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad came to a cessation after a splendid and illustrious final day of tennis flurry and liveliness. Ongoing tennis events have brought to the fore some astute and buoyant young ones who look skillful, talented, and gifted and are like to become an agreeable batch of tennis professionals speedily.
Islamabad Tennis Association is organizing continuously the 36th of this prestigious national ranking tennis championship. More than 120 players were seen in action in four (6) events of Men’s Singles & Doubles and Ladies’ Singles, Junior 18& Singles Boys 14&Under and Boys & Girls 10&U Singles. Islamabad Tennis Association has the honor to organize 2 international tournaments, and 2 national and 4 local tennis championships in this calendar year in collaboration with the Pakistan Tennis Federation. A sum of Rupees Eight hundred and fifty thousand were distributed amongst the winners and runner-ups as Prize Money and Daily Allowances.
In the Men’s Singles Final, 22-year-old top seed Muhammad Shoaib of PAF beat Aqeel Khan in a straight set match which lasted over 1 hour 18 minutes 6-2, 6-4 to win the Championships.
Shoaib got off to a flying start, taking a 4-2 lead by breaking fist game of Aqeel Khan and kept the same pressure to win the first set at 6-2. In the second set Aqeel fought back but young Shoaib did not allow Aqeel to settle down and exhibited excellent tennis from the base line and break the 7th game of Aqeel to build up the winning streak 4-3 in which Aqeel hit a double fault. Shaoib continued the same pressure and in the 10th game he hit strong serve game and won the set by hitting Ace and clinched the Men’s Singles title at 6-2 6-4. The final match officiated by ITF White Badge Umpire Husnain Mehmood.
Earlier in the day, the Ladies Singles Sarah Mahboob clinched the title by eliminating up-comping youngster Amna Ali Qayum from Islamabad in a well-fought straight sets final. Sarah won the toss and chose to serve. Both the players exhibited excellent game of tennis down the line and cross-court, Sarah took the lead 5-4 and broke the 10th game of Amna and won the set at 6-4. In the second set both the players again played the marvelous game of tennis with the combination of excellent cross-court and down the lines. Sarah took the lead of 5-3 by breaking the 8th game of Aman, but Aman fought back bravely and managed to level the score 5 games all by breaking the 9th game of Sarah. In the 11th game, Sarah took the serve advance and again developed the winning lead 6-5. In the 12th game, Aman was unable to maintain her confidence and hit two double faults. Sarah took the advantage and comfortably broke the game and won the set and match at 6-4 7-5.
In the Boys & Girls 10&Under Muhammad Arsh from Karachi won the title by defeating the 2nd seed Muhammad Faizan in straight set 4-2 4-1.
Sayyed Mubasshar Tauqir Shah Addl. Secretary, Information and Managing Director PTV unable to come to witness the final due to an emergent official engagement at Ministry. Mr. Usama Azhar Director Sport PTV and Mr. Majid Bashir Senior Executive Vice President of Islamabad Tennis Association graced the occasion as Guest of Honor and distributed the prizes amongst the winners and runners-up. At this occasion Secretary PTF Col. Gul Rehman, Mr. M.T.Cheema, Senior Executive Vice President, ITA also distributed the prizes to winners and runner-ups.
Following are the results:
Men’s Singles Final
Muhammad Shoaib beat Aqeel Khan 6-2 6-4
Ladies Singles Final
Sarah Mahboob Khan beat Amna Ali Qayum 6-4 7-5
Boys & Girls 10&U Singles Final
Muhammad Arsh beat Muhammad Faizan 4-2 4-1.
