ITA-SNGPL ITF Pakistan World Junior Tennis Championship: Huzaifa & Shoaib triumphs!

Pakistan’s Huzaifa Abdul Rehman made the country proud by clinching boys’ singles title in the ITA-SNGPL ITF Pakistan World Junior Tennis Championship 2019 after defeating Korean Dong Hwan KIM in the final played here at Senator Dilawar Abbas PTF Complex, Islamabad.

Huzaifa continued his brilliant run in the championship and completely outplayed his much senior and experienced Korean opponent in all departments of tennis. It was commanding, dominating and flawless tennis shown by the Pakistani, who is scaling down new heights ever since he has started playing tennis.

Huzaifa was enjoying overwhelming crowd support, who were gathered to witness the final in huge numbers, while entire PTF management including the patron, president and above all his father was also amongst the spectators. Huzaifa started the first set on a fiery note and took it 6-3 by breaking fifth game of Dong Hwan Kim. The first set was marked with aces long rallies and number of winners hit by Huzaifa at the crucial stages.

In the second set, Huzaifa built up 2-0 lead by breaking second game of Kim, who was looking highly down and ill. He was not able to move properly and conceded the match due to illness and fatigue, as he was not able to continue the second set while down 0-2. The final lasted 53 minutes and was officiated by Shahzad Akhtar Alvi, ITF White Badge chair umpire. It was double delight for the Pakistani youngster, as he, pairing with Shoaib, had already won the doubles title.

Earlier, the Pakistani pair of Huzaifa & Shoaib comfortably won the men's doubles title in straight sets, beating their Korean opponents in one hour and two minutes. 

In the first set, at 3-3 when all the players held their respective serves Huzaifa held his serve and then break the eighth game of Min Joon to take a 5-3 lead. Shoaib held his serve as the home pair won the first set 6-3. In the second set, the score went up to 4-4 all and again Shoaib and Huzaifa break the ninth game of Min Joon to clinch won the set 6-4, and with it the match.

Meanwhile, Aysegul Mert of Turkey partnering Russia’s Arina Valitova secured the girls doubles title as they outplayed the Iranian pair of Khanloo Mahta and Safi Meshkatolzahra 6-2, 6-3 in a one-sided affair.

Ayesgul and Valitova took a lead 3-0 by breaking the second and sixth game of Safi on their way to bag the first set. Maintaining the pressure on their rivals, both the girls made a number of winners from the base line while the Iranian pair made mistakes at crucial moments.

The Turkish-Russian duo easily won the second set by breaking the sixth game, that gave them the match lasting one hour and five minutes.