SRINAGAR: The Srinagar Open Tennis Championship kicked off on Saturday at Gindun Tennis Courts in Rajbagh, with 10 matches taking place on the opening day.
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 prevailed 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 to qualify for the quarterfinals.
In another match, Rouf Ahmad defeated Mir Jameel in three sets in a duel that lasted two hours and 25 minutes. Rouf won 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
Gurmit Singh beat Sajad Bhat 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 to set up a quarter-final clash with Dilbagh Singh in another three-setter.
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 was trailing 2-5 in the second set against Shubhkarman Singh after winning the first set. However, last year’s finalist paced up 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.
