Shoaib beats Ayar, wins ITF title

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Top seed Mohammad Shoaib beat Turkey’s Ayar Goklap to win the Boys’ Singles title of the Syed Dilawar Abbas Memorial ITF Pakistan Junior Tennis Championships here at the PTF Complex on Sunday.
Shoaib, who won the previous ITF Juniors title as well won 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in a thriller against Ayar.
In the first set, Ayar build up a 3-1 lead by breaking Shoaib’s fourth game before the latter leveled after breaking Ayar’s 7th game of Ayar.
The score went up to 5-5 as both the players held their respective serves; at this stage Ayar held his serve with the help of two aces and build up a lead of 6-5, eventually winning the first set 7-5.
In the second set, Ayar maintained the pressure and once again managed to build up a 3-1 lead after the second game. At this stage though, Shoaib changed the game plan and started playing long rallies from the base line which helped him level the score 3-3 by breaking Ayar’s fifth to win the second set 6-4.
Shoaib started off the fourth set aggressively and was leading 4-0 after the third game. Ayar did reduce the lead but eventually won the set 6-4.
Secretary information and broadcasting Akber Durrani was the chief guest of the closing ceremony and distributed trophies among to the winners and runner-up.