Aqeel, younger brother in final of Federal Cup tennis
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Aqeel Khan and his younger brother Jalil Khan, both Davis Cuppers, will clash in the Men’s Singles Final of Askari Bank-sponsored 23rd Federal Cup Tennis Championships here at Islamabad Club clay courts on Saturday.
In the first semi final of Men’s Singles on Friday,Top Seed Aqeel Khan beat Hamid-ul-Haq in straight sets. In the first set Aqeel Khan did not allow Hamid-ul-Haq to settle down against his aggressive game and won the set at 6-1 by breaking 4th and 6th gamed of Hamid-ul-Haq.
In the second sent Aqeel Khan built up the winning lead 5-1 by breaking 1st and 3rd games of Hamid-ul-Haq but Hamid fought back and the score reached 4-5 by breaking 8th game of Aqeel Khan. Hamid played excellent long rallies game. Aqeel Khan won the second set 6-4 by holding his 10th game.
The match lasted 1 hrs 30 minutes. In the second semi final Jalil Khan made the major upset by defeating 2nd seed Asim Shafik in well contested 3 set match. In the first set Jalil Khan buily up the winning lead 4-2 by breaking 3rd game of Asim. Asim Shafik changed the pace of the game and won the set at 6-4 without giving a single game to Jalil Khan. In the second set Jalil Khan built up the lead 5-3 by breaking 5th game of Asim and won the set at 6-3.
The match was decided in the final set which Jalil Khan won 6-2 by playing intelligent game. The match lasted 2 hrs 15 minutes. In Ladies Singles Final Top seed Sarah Mahboob annexed the title by beating 2nd seed Natasha Afridi in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. Both the players displayed excellent game of tennis and the presence of large number of tennis fans.
In the Girls U-17 Singles Semi Final Sarah Mahboob beat Mehaq Khokhar and Sara Mansoor defeated Natasha Afridi in straight setd. Sarah Mahboob won her encounter at score 6-1 6-1 while Saran Mansoor won her match at score 6-2 6-2.
In the Mens Doubles final top seed Aqeel Khan/Jalil Khan won the doubles title by beating Inam Gul/Mahmood Khan in straight sets 6-3 6-3. Abid Ali will face Yasir Khan in the Boy’s U-17 Singles Final which will be played Saturday. Abid Ali easily defeated Fahad Ali in straight sets 6-0 6-3 in the first semi final, while in the second semi final Yasir Khan eliminated Khurram Nazir in well contested 2 set match 7-5 6-2.
Hamza Pataudi made the major upset by beating top seed Jibran-ul-Haq in straight sets 4-2 4-2. While in the second semi-final Ahmed Ch faced much resistance against his un-experienced new comer Aqil Khan. Ahmed Ch won the match in three set 4-1 2-4 4-1.
In the Seniors 45 & Above Doubles semi-finals Ali Akber/Col. Shahid beat M.Babar/Musa Khan at score 6-3 7-5 while Inam-ul-Haq/Air Core Razi defeated Sohail Kiani/Durrani 6-2 6-0.