Russia’s Vlegzhanin downs Ahmed in int’l tennis

ISLAMABAD: Teenager Nikolay Vlegzhanin (Russia) gave exciting display of his tennis skills to earn creditable three-sets victory over Ahmed Choudhry (Pakistan) on the opening day of Serena Hotels ITF Futures International Tennis Tournament at the Dilawar Abbas Complex Monday.
On the day when only four single matches were played Vlegzhanin won 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Both players showed some quality tennis mostly from the baseline. Russian broke Ahmad’s fourth serve with some solid exhibition of baseline rallies. He went to hold his own serve to take the opening set. Ahmad bounced back well winning the second courtesy to some unforced errors committed by the Vlegzhanin.
The third set turned out be a one-sided affair as super fit Russian totally dominated the proceedings. He looked fitter and better in stamina, winning the third with ease. Muhammad Abid also moved into the second round overpowering Muhammad Shoaib in three sets 6-0, 4-6, 6-0. In the men’s doubles round 1, Pakistan’s junior ace Yousaf Khalil pairing with Afghanistan’s Asad kebir stunned the Russian pair of Dmitiry Myagkov and Ivan Ponomarenko. It was one of most exciting matches of the tournament so far and the crowd applauded both sides for displaying great tennis skills and sportsmanship. Pakistan No.1 Aqeel Khan pairing with Shahzad Khan comfortably beat their Pakistani counterparts Muhammad Waqas Malik and Usman Rafique in straight sets. Top seeded pair David Perez Sanz and Kelsey Stevenson progressed into the second round by comfortably beating their opponents. Second seed pair of Peter Goldsteiner and Julian Onken from Austria and Germany respectively, breezed past the Mehmood Khan brothers. Vadim Alekseenko from Ukraine pairing Nikolay Vylegzhanin from Russia stunned third seed Russian pair of Shlava Dzhanashia and Ivan Nedelko.
Results: Men’s singles (first round): Julian Onken (Ger) bt Tegbir Singh Hara (Can) 6-0, 6-0; Shalva Dzhanashia (Rus) bt Kshitij Kamal (Ind) 6-3, 6-1; M Abid (Pak) bt M Shoaib (Pak) 6-0, 4-6, 6-0; Nikolay Vlegzhanin (Rus) bt Ahmed Choudhry (Pak) 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Men’s doubles (first round): David Perez Sanz (Esp)/Kelsey Stevenson (Can) [1] bt M Abid Pak/Muzammil Murtaza (Pak) 6-4, 6-4; Oleg Besednikov (Rus)/Alexander Lebedyn (Ukr) bt Heera Ashiq (Pak)/Yasir Khan (Pak) 6-4, 6-4; Fariduni Bekhodur (TJK)/Roy Hobbs (SGP) bt Tegbir Singh Hara (Can)/Kshitij Kamal (Ind) 7-6, 6-0; Aqeel Khan (Pak)/Shahzad Khan (Pak) bt Muhammad Waqas Malik (Pak)/Usman Rafique (Pak) 6-0, 6-3; Luka Pavlovic (FRA)/Pere Riba (Esp) bt Gleb Alekseenko (Ukr)/Anton Chekhov (Rus): 4-6, 6-4, [10-4]; Vadim Alekseenko (Ukr)/Nikolay Vylegzhanin (Rus) bt Shlava Dzhanashia (Rus)/Ivan Nedelko (Rus) 6-2, 4-6, [10-8]; Asad kebir (AFG)/Yousaf Khalil bt Dmitiry Myagkov (Rus)/Ivan Ponomarenko (Rus) 0-6, 7-5, [11-9]; Peter Goldsteiner (AUT)/Julian Onken (Ger) [2] bt Asad Mehmood Khan(Pak)/Fahad Mehmood Khan(Pak) 6-0, 6-0.