Excelsior Sports Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 18: Moazzam Rashid will face Inayat Jehangir for the Srinagar Open Tennis Championship title in the singles as well as doubles event to be played tomorrow at Gindun Sports Complex at Rajbagh here.
Inayat defeated Asif Nowsheri in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 in a game of attritional tennis where none of the players tried to enforce the pace of the game. Both the players waited at the baseline, playing it deep in an attempt to force anything error from the opponent.
In the end, the 46-year-old veteran outran Asif on fitness to storm into the finals.
In the second semifinal, Moazam and Haider Hussain played some exhilarating tennis but in the end, it was again the fitter of the two players to prevail. Moazam won 6-3, 6-1 to set up a repeat title clash against Inayat. The 28-year-old had won the title last year.
The single’s semifinals were officiated by Kulwant Singh, deputed to the tournament be All India Tennis Association at the request of Jammu and Kashmir Lawn Tennis Association.
Earlier in the day, Inayat paired with Tufail Bhat defeated crowd favorites Danish and Wahab in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.
Inayat-Tufail, who have recently joined hands and were not expected to progress to knock out stages, dominated the match right from the word go.
In the second semifinal, Moazam and Haider joined hands to defeat Jamil Mir and Tahafuz Ilahi 6-2, 6-3. The match was much closer than suggested by the scoreline with Tahafuz and Jamil not able to convert crucial points.
Moazam and Haider are the defending champions in the doubles event.
Sixty round robin matches were played in both singles and doubles events with two top teams or players qualifying for the knock out stages.
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