Srinagar Open Tennis championship starts
Srinagar: Srinagar Open Tennis championship got underway at Gindun Tennis courts at Rajbagh here on Saturday as 10 matches were played on the opening day, a statement issued here said.
The highlight of the first day was the match between Irfan Bhat and Dilbagh Singh as the best-of-three setter lasted nearly three hours.
The momentum shifted between Bhat and Singh after every three games but the latter finally prevailed 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to qualify for the quarterfinals.
In another marathon match, Rouf Ahmad defeated Mir Jameel in three sets in a duel that lasted two hours 25 minutes. Rouf won 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
In another three setter, Gurmit Singh beat Sajad Bhat 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 to set up a quarter final clash with Dilbagh Singh.
Defending champion Inayat Jehangir and last year’s runner up Haider Hussain are on course for a rematch for the title this year.
Both Jehangir and Hussain won their matches in straight sets to qualify for semi-finals.
Haider had a slight scare in his quarter final match as he was trailing 2-5 in the second set against Shubhkarman Singh after winning the first set.
However, last year’s finalist upped his game and romped home with a 6-1, 7-5 win.
The Srinagar Open Tennis Championship, organised by District Lawn Tennis Association under the aegis of Jammu and Kashmir Lawn Tennis Association, has become a permanent fixture in Kashmir’s tennis calendar.
