ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL
Islamabad (December 11, 2021):-The 3rd Seed Mohammad Shoaib toppled top seed Aqeel Khan 2-1 in the Men’s Singles final of the J7 Group – 34th Federal Cup National Ranking Tennis Championship at SDA-PTF Tennis Complex on Saturday. The final score-line was 6-4, 3-6 and 6-3 after two hour long contest.
Mohammad Shoaib from Pakistan Air Force (PAF) claimed this historical feat against top national guy after a thrilling match. Shoaib fine start after taking a 3-0 lead but experienced Aqeel fought back to level the set 3-3. However, Shoaib regained control and took the set 6-4 after hitting impressive strokes.
Meanwhile, in the second set, after a few closely fought games, Aqeel took complete control of the game and won 6-3. The deciding set saw some exhilarating tennis with Shoaib taking the set 6-3, despite the best efforts and fighting spirit of Aqeel. Shoaib won the title match 2-1 at 6-3, 3-6 and 6-4.
Earlier in the day, the Ladies Singles Sarah Mahboob beat Ushna Sohail in a 3-set thriller that lasted 3 hours. Although expectation were that the encounter would be closely fought out, however, Sarah had chalked out her own game plan which worked with preciseness and exactitude and all through the 3 sets Sarah surfaced in a imperious and forceful way leaving her opponent astounded.
Ushna played some calculated tennis in the first set to go up 5-2, but Sarah fought back to win the set 7-5.in the second set, Ushna again led 3-0 and 5-3, but Sarah came to make it 5-5. However, Ushna regained her composure to take the set 7-5. The third set went down to the wire, with Sarah holding her nerve to take the match and the championships.
Results:
Men's Singles Final
Mohammad Shoaib beat Aqeel Khan 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
Ladies Singles Final
Sarah Mahboob beat Ushna Suhail 7-5, 5-7,6-4
Men's Doubles Final
Barkatullah / Mohammad Shaoib beat Yousaf Khalil / Heera Ashiq 5-7, 6-2, 10-6
Men's Doubles Semi Finals
Yousaf Khalil / Heera Ashiq beat Aqeel Khan / Nofil Kaleem 6-4, 1-6, 10-7
Ladies Doubles Final
Ushna Sohail / Noor Malik beat Sarah Mahboob / Mehaq Khokhar 3-6, 6-3, 10-7
Ladies Doubles Semi Finals
Ushna Sohail / Noor Malik beat Hania Navaid / Syed Areej Batool 6-2, 7-6(5)
Mehaq Khokar / Sarah Mahboob beat Mariam Mirza / Shiza Sajid 6-1, 6-3.
