Tennis - Int News
Aisam and Aqeel reach Into World Championship Doubles Final
Islamabad (PR): Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan continued their outstanding run at the ITF Masters World Individual Championships, booking their place in the Men’s 45+ doubles final with a straight-sets victory over Ukraine’s Andriy Baidikov and Anatolii Stepakhno.The Pakistani pair prevailed 6-4, 7-6 in a hard-fought semifinal that became increasingly tense as the match progressed.After taking the opening set 6-4, Aisam and Aqeel appeared to be cruising toward the final when they surged to a 4-1, 40-15 lead in the second set. The Ukrainian pair, however, refused to go away and staged an impressive comeback, clawing their way back into the set and eventually forcing a tiebreak.What followed was a very close and tense tiebreaker, with little separating the two teams. Aisam and Aqeel ultimately held their nerve at the crucial moments, closing out the match in straight sets and securing their place in the World Championship final.The victory continues a remarkable week for the experienced Pakistani duo, whose combination of big-match experience, resilience and composure under pressure has carried them through a series of demanding encounters in Lisbon.There will be little time for either player to rest, with both also scheduled to compete today in their respective Mixed Doubles semifinals.Aisam is partnering Nina Hermann of Austria, while Aqeel is playing alongside Eileen Aranas-Roth of Germany, leaving both Pakistani stars in contention for medals across multiple events as the Individual World Championships enter their decisive stages.Aisam and Aqeel will now turn their attention to the Men’s 45+ doubles final, where they will attempt to cap their exceptional run by claiming the World Championship title.
Aisam and Aqeel Storm into World Championship Doubles Semifinals
Sports Bulletin ReportLisbon (Portugal): Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan continued their impressive run at the ITF Masters World Individual Championships, advancing to the semifinals of the Men’s 45+ Doubles after a thrilling victory over the dangerous Spanish pairing of Francisco Javier Martínez Baena and Pedro Nieto Orellana.In a dramatic quarterfinal played on Court 1 at the famous Jamor Tennis Center, the Pakistani duo prevailed 6-7, 7-6, [10-2] in front of a sizeable gathering of tennis enthusiasts.Aisam and Aqeel appeared to be heading for defeat after dropping a tightly contested opening set and then falling a break behind in the second. The Spaniards subsequently held two match points, but the experienced Pakistani pair produced their best tennis under pressure, saving both and forcing the set into a tiebreak.After taking the second set 7-6, Aisam and Aqeel completely seized the momentum in the deciding match tiebreak, racing away to a commanding 10-2 victory to seal a memorable comeback and a place in the World Championship semifinals.Earlier in the tournament, the Pakistani pair had overcome the leading Japanese combination of **Hayato Otsubo and **Manabu Tsujimoto in 3 sets, further underlining their strong form in Lisbon. They will now face a Ukrainian duo in the semifinals as they attempt to secure a place in the championship match.On Tuesday, Pakistan also enjoyed an outstanding day in the 40+ Mixed Doubles, with both Aisam and Aqeel reaching the semifinals with their respective partners.Aqeel, partnering Eileen Aranas-Roth of Germany, fought back from a set down to defeat the Portuguese pairing of Caterina and Joao Ferreira 4-6, 7-6, [10-4]. Like his men’s doubles quarterfinal, the contest required a determined comeback before Aqeel and Aranas-Roth dominated the deciding match tiebreak.Aisam, meanwhile, partnered Nina Hermann of Austria and produced a more straightforward quarterfinal victory, defeating the German combination of Katherina Rath and Thomas Bergmeister 6-2, 6-4 to book their place in the last four.The results mean that Pakistan’s two leading players have now reached the semifinals in both Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles, continuing a remarkable World Championships campaign in Lisbon following Pakistan’s silver-medal performance in the Men’s 45+ World Team Championships.
Pakistani Juniors Shine at ITF J30 Dushanbe Cup 2026
Islamabad: Pakistan’s young tennis talent continues to make the nation proud as Muhammad Hassan Usmani and Amir Mazari have become the Boys’ Doubles Finalist's at the ITF J30 Dushanbe Cup 2026, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 29 June to 3 July 2026.The Pakistani pair displayed outstanding determination, teamwork, and fighting spirit throughout the week, defeating strong opponents from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan on their way to this great achievement.(SBR)
Muzammil Murtaza Defeats Indian Aditya Kothari 2-0 in ITF M15 match
Islamabad (faisal): Pakistan’s leading tennis player, Muzammil Murtaza, made an impressive start to his campaign at the ITF M15 Future Tournament in Kayseri, Türkiye, defeating India’s Aditya Kothari in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1, in the first round of the main draw.Muzammil earned direct entry into the main draw through a wild card arranged by the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) in collaboration with the Turkish Tennis Federation, providing him with an excellent opportunity to compete at the international level.Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, congratulated Muzammil on his outstanding performance and praised his dominant victory.
Davis Cup Juniors Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying event-Symkent Kazakhstan
Islamabad (PR): The Pakistan 16 & under Boys Team has departed for Shymkent, Kazakhstan, to participate in the Davis Cup Juniors Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying event, scheduled to be held from 16th to 24th May 2026.The team comprises the following members:• Abubakar Talha – Player • Mohammad Hassan Usmani – Player • Zohaib Afzal Malik – Player • Mohammad Haseeb Aslam – Captain #pakistantennis #tennis #daviscupjuniors
Mohammad Shoaib inks new History by winning ITF Futures Singles Title
Islamabad (faisal): Pakistan’s rising star Mohammad Shoaib etched his name in history by winning the singles title at the Flair Travel ITF Men’s Futures M-15 Championships 2026 at the PTF Tennis Complex, Islamabad.In a thrilling final, Shoaib defeated Russia’s Nikita Ianin with a score of 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-2 in front of a packed and energetic home crowd.This remarkable victory marks the end of a 20-year wait, as Shoaib becomes the first Pakistani player since Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan to win an ITF Futures singles title.A total of 70 men’s players from 23 countries are participated in this prestigious international event. The participating nations include Pakistan, Kuwait, Russia, Uzbekistan, Sweden, Austria, Malaysia, Great Britain, Italy, Lithuania, China, Turkey, Algeria, Canada, USA, Ireland, Poland, Hong Kong, Nepal, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Japan.Speaking after the match, Shoaib said:I thank Almighty Allah for this achievement and for giving me the opportunity to make Pakistan proud on home soil. It was an amazing final, and Insha’Allah I will continue this momentum.
Mohammad Shoaib Storms into ITF Futures Final
Mohammad Abid and Muzammil Murtaza Clinch Doubles TitleSports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: A rising star Mohammad Shoaib has reached the final of the Flair Travel ITF Men’s Futures M-15 (Leg-1) Islamabad - becoming the first Pakistani in 20 years to achieve this remarkable feat in an ITF Futures event.In a dominant semifinal, Shoaib outclassed China’s Fenming Meng with an emphatic 6-1, 6-1 victory. Displaying exceptional skill, confidence, and composure, Shoaib thrilled the home crowd and marched into the final in style, marking a proud moment for Pakistan tennis.Adding to the celebrations, Pakistan’s duo Mohammad Abid Ali Khan Akbar and Muzammil Murtaza captured the doubles title after 9 years in an exciting all-Pakistani final. They defeated the experienced pair of Aqeel Khan and Barkatullah with a score of 6-2, 2-6, 10-7 to clinch the championship. Their victory highlights the growing depth and strength of Pakistan’s doubles circuit.Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, stated:This is a truly historic and proud moment for Pakistan tennis. Seeing a Pakistani player reach an ITF Futures final after 30 years is something very special, not just for the player but for the entire nation. We are proud to be hosting international tournaments in Pakistan, and it is extremely encouraging to witness our players rising to the occasion and delivering outstanding performances on home soil.He further elaborated on the vision behind hosting international events: The core idea of bringing international tournaments to Pakistan is to provide our players with the opportunity to compete at home, gain valuable ATP ranking points, and smoothly transition into the professional ATP circuit. It is very satisfying to see that this vision is now becoming a reality, as our players are performing impressively and steadily improving their rankings.President-PTF also praised the doubles champions, adding: The doubles title victory by Abid and Muzammil is a great honour for Pakistan. Their success is a reflection of their dedication, teamwork, and the continuous hard work being put in by our players.Expressing his satisfaction over the overall standard of play in Leg-1, he concluded: We remain fully committed to organizing more international tournaments in Pakistan. With increased exposure, competitive opportunities, and the right support system, our players will continue to grow, gain confidence, and achieve even greater success on the international stage in the years to come.On the second Semifinal, Nikita Ianin (RUS) bt Arvid Nordquist (SWE) 6-4,6-4The Men’s Singles Final will be played tomorrow, 3rd May 2026.
ITF Men’s Futures M-15: Aqeel and Barkatullah earn a win in Doubles event
Mohammad Shoaib maintains winning habit, defeats Matas Vasiliauskas 2-0Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Veteran tennis player, Aqeel Khan pairing with Barkatullah Khan claimed a big win against duo of overseas lads Adam Farag-Cao from Canada and Carl Holder from Great Britain after a three sets nerve-jangling thrilling competition in the Men’s Double event of the ITF Men’s Futures M-15 (Leg-1) here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Garden Avenue on Thursday.Pakistan’s top player, Mohammad Shoaib, produced a commanding performance in the second round of the ITF M-15 Islamabad, thrilling the home crowd with his dominance on court. Facing Matsas of Lithuania, Shoaib showed complete control from the very first point. He stormed through the opening set 6-0, displaying precision, power, and confidence that left his opponent with little chance to respond. Carrying the same momentum into the second set, Shoaib raced to a 4-1 lead before Matsas was forced to retire, sealing Shoaib’s emphatic victory.With this win, Shoaib has qualified for the quarterfinals -a significant milestone, not just for him but for Pakistan tennis as a whole. His achievement is especially noteworthy as it highlights the growing strength of local players competing at the international level on home soil.In the doubles quarterfinal, experienced campaigner Aqeel Khan partnered with emerging player Barkatullah to deliver a strong and composed performance. The Pakistani duo overcame the pair of Adam Farag-Cao of Canada and Carl Holder of Great Britain in a competitive encounter. After dominating the first set 6-1, Aqeel and Barkatullah faced resistance in the second set, which they narrowly lost 4-6. However, showing great composure and teamwork, they bounced back in the match tie-break to seal the victory 10-5. With this impressive win, Aqeel Khan and Barkatullah have successfully qualified for the semifinals, continuing Pakistan’s promising run in the doubles event.Results:Men’s Singles (Pre-Quarterfinals):Mohammad Shoaib (PAK) beat Matas Vasiliauskas (LTU) 6-0, 4-1 (Retd.)Mert Naci Türker (TUR) beat Abubakar Talha (PAK) 6-3, 6-4Nikita Ianin (RUS) beat Barkatullah (PAK) 6-2, 6-0Fanming Meng (CHN) beat Essa Qabazard (KUW) 6-4, 6-3Arvid Nordquist (SWE) beat Darrshan Suresh (MAS) 6-3, 6-3Samir Hamza Reguig (ALG) beat Alexey Dubinin (RUS) 6-0, 6-3Leo Borg (SWE) beat Mohammad Abid Ali Akbar Khan (PAK) 6-4, 6-4Kere Yilmaz (TUR) beat Dmitrii Shiroki 3-6, 7-5, 7-5Men’s Doubles (Quarterfinals):Aqeel Khan / Barkatullah Khan (PAK) beat Adam Farag-Cao (CAN) / Carl Holder (GBR) 6-1, 4-6, (10-5)Ivan Iutkin / Alexey Dubinin (RUS) beat Abubakar Talha / Ahmad Nael Qureshi (PAK) 4-6, 6-3, 10-5.
ITF Men’s Futures: Mohammad Shoaib outclasses Edoardo Ligniere 2-0
Ahmad Nael Qureshi and Abu Bakar Talha win Men’s Doubles match against Russian pair 2-1Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top national tennis player, Mohammad Shoaib moved into the second round of the ITF Men’s Futures M-15 (Leg-1) after thrashing Edoardo Cherie Ligniere from Italy in straight sets 2-0 here at PTF-SDA Tennis Complex on Wednesday. The final score-line was 6–1, 6–3.Mohammad Shoaib displayed aggressive tennis and did not allow his opponent to settle his feet on the court, as the game of the local guy was laced with powerful forehand and backhand drives with the classic drop shots and volleys. Mohammad Shoaib finished the first set after losing a solitary game at 6-1.Meanwhile, in the second set, Mohammad Shoaib exhibited brilliant tennis despite facing some resistance from his Italian challenger Lignere, who won three games of the set. Mohammad Shoaib ended the second set at 6-3 to confirm his berth in the second round of an international tennis showpiece.A total of 70 men’s players from 23 countries are participating in this prestigious international event. The participating nations included hosts Pakistan, Kuwait, Russia, Uzbekistan, Sweden, Australia, Malaysia, Great Britain, Italy, Lithuania, China, Turkey, Algeria, Canada, USA, Ireland, Poland, Hong Kong, Nepal, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Japan.It is pertinent to note here that the top seed of the tournament is Leo Borg of Sweden, currently ranked ATP 483, while the second seed is Samir Hamza Reguig of Algeria, holding an ATP ranking of 844.Later on, in the Men’s Doubles, the young Pakistani pair Abubakar Talha and Ahmad Nael Qureshi delivered an impressive performance, showing great coordination and confidence throughout the match. After dropping a tight first set, the duo fought back strongly to take control of the contest with aggressive and composed tennis. They ultimately secured a well-earned victory over their opponents with a score of 5–7, 6–2, 10–5, advancing to the next round.Results:Men’s Singles (Round=1):Mohammad Shoaib (PAK) beat Edoardo Cherie Ligniere (ITA) 6–1, 6–3Darrshan Suresh (MAS) beat Melih Anavatan (TUR) 6–4, 6–3Arvid Nordquist (SWE) beat Carl Holder (GBR) 6–4, 7–6 (7–0)Barkatullah (PAK) beat Yousaf Khalil (PAK) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2Samir Hamza Reguig (ALG) beat Andrei Kunitsyn (RUS) 7–5, 2–6, 7–6 (4)Alexey Dubinin (RUS) beat Adam Bajurko (POL) 6–3, 6–3Leo Borg (SWE) beat Aqeel Khan (PAK) 7-6 (4), 6-3Mert Naci Türker (TUR) beat Stevan Popovic (GER) 6–7 (5), 7–6 (5), 7–6 (3) Men’s Doubles (Round-1):Ahmad Nael Qureshi (PAK) / Abu Bakar Talha (PAK) beat Egor Khotchenkov / Dmitrii Shirokii (RUS) 5–7, 6–2, (10–5)Essa Qabazard (KUW) / Darrshan Suresh (MAS) beat Arkhip Kozlov (RUS) / Abdulaziz Usmonjonov (UZB) 7–5, 6–3Aqeel Khan (PAK) / Barkat Khan (PAK) beat Adam Bajurko (POL) / Lawrence Bataljin (AUS) 6–0, 6–1Adam Farag-Cao (CAN) / Carl Holder (GBR) beat Nikita Ianin / Andrei Kunitsyn (RUS) 3–6, 7–6 (3), 10–6Tugra Duran (TUR) / Mert Naci Türker (TUR) beat Yousaf Khalil (PAK) / Mohammad Shoaib (PAK) 6–4, 6–4
ITF Men’s Futures M-15 (Leg-1) Begins Islamabad
ITF Men’s Futures M-15 (Leg-1) tournament has commenced today at the PTF Tennis Complex, Islamabad.This tournament is being organized in the memory of Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmad, a respected former tennis player of the subcontinent, in recognition of his valuable contributions to the sport and his lasting legacy in regional tennis history.A total of 70 men’s players from 23 countries are participating in this prestigious international event. The participating nations include Pakistan, Kuwait, Russia, Uzbekistan, Sweden, Austria, Malaysia, Great Britain, Italy, Lithuania, China, Turkey, Algeria, Canada, USA, Ireland, Poland, Hong Kong, Nepal, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Japan.Top seed of the tournament is Leo Borg of Sweden, currently ranked ATP 483, while the second seed is Samir Hamza Reguig of Algeria, holding an ATP ranking of 844.Results:Men’s Singles Qualifying 1st Round: Yousaf Haleem(PAK) bt Ali Zafar (PAK) 7-5,6-0; Fedor Dorokhov (RUS) bt Mazhar Go Nakamichi (JPN) 7-6(5), 6-7(5)10-7; M.Talha Khan (PAK) bt Inam Qadir (PAK) 6-0,6-3; Hamza Roman (PAK) bt Ahmar Saeed (PAK) 6-0,6-0; Artem Bukin (RUS) bt ILyos Abrorov (UZB) 6-3,6-3; Abishek Bastola (NEP) bt Adnan Rashid Khan (PAK) 6-0,1-0(retd);M.Abid Ali Akbar Khan (PAK) bt Yi Yuan (HKG) 6-0,6-0;Men’s Singles Qualifying 2nd Round: Ivan Iutkin (RUS) bt Sameer Ahmed (PAK) 6-1,6-2; M.Abid Ali Akbar Khan (PAK) bt Tugra Duran(TUR) 6-1,6-4; Adam Farag Cao (CAN) bt Yousaf Haleem (PAK) 6-0,6-2; Arkhip Kozlov (RUS) bt Heran Zhang(CHN) 7-5,6-3;Ahmed Nael Qureshi (PAK) Shawal Azeem (PAK) 6-1,6-0; Xiuyuan Guo (CHN) bt Mustansir Ali Khan (PAK) 6-0,6-3; Egor Khotchenkov (RUS) bt Hamza Roman (PAK) 2-6,6-2(10-8) ; Adam Bajurko (POL) bt Zachary Mintz(USA) 6-1,6-0The 3rd Round of the qualifying matches will start at 10:00 am tomorrow.
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