Altoobli, Ibrahim through to ITF tennis semi-finals

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrainis Hashim Atoobli and Ahmed Ibrahim yesterday barged into the semi-finals of the boys’ singles division in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) 14 and Under Development Championships for West and Central Asia, being hosted by the Bahrain Tennis Federation (BTF). The competition is the second ITF event in as many weeks being played at the BTF courts in Isa Town. Altoobli, the boys’ second seed, earned his place in the last four following a 6-4, 6-3 win over Haider Alfraid of Saudi Arabia.

He will next take on fourth seed Abdulkrahman Alabdullah of Kuwait, who also made it into the semi-finals with a 6-4, 6-4 win against Mohamad Osama Sarraj of Syria. Meanwhile, Ibrahim secured his final four spot with a 6-1, 6-0 triumph over Nawar Zaher Eddin of Syria. Ibrahim, the boys’ third seed, will next take on topranked Kuwaiti Mohammad Alawadhi, who booked his semi-final berth with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Laith Alhassan, also from Syria.

Both semi-finals are scheduled to be played today at the BTF courts. Meanwhile, all four single semi-finalists are also in the last four of the boys’ doubles. Altoobli and Ibrahim are the top seeds, and they will take on the fourth-seeded pair of Alfraid and Kuwaiti Mohammed Qali, who advanced to the semis with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Alhassan and Eddin.

Kuwaitis Alawadhi and Alabdullah, on the other hand, teamed up as the second seeds and will take on the third-seeded Saudi tandem of Abdulrazzaq Al Henabi and Abdulmalik Alshamrani, who won 6-0, 6-0 over Bahraini Ahmed Alsayed and Sarraj in the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Mary Abrash and Bana Izzi set up another all-Syrian final in the girls’ singles division. It is the second successive time they will meet for the title in Bahrain, as they had also previously squared off for the girls’ singles crown in the previous tournament held last week. Mary, who will be hoping for backto-back titles, made it through to the championship match with a 6-1, 6-1 win over compatriot Alya Almorawed. Bana followed suit, beating Yara Kayal, also from Syria, 6-3, 7-6 (1).

The girls’ singles final is scheduled for tomorrow. In the girls’ doubles, Mary and Bana will also be playing for the title but as teammates, having advanced to the final via walkover against Bahrainis Haneen Alnajjar and Salma Faragallah. There, they will take on their singles semis opponents Alya and Yara, who advanced following a 6-1, 6-0 triumph against Bahrainis Haneen Aboumoustafa and Mariam Yasser.