Shoaib crowned Federal Cup champion
The curtains fell on the 37th OGDCL Federal Cup National Ranking Tennis Championships with a spectacular and action-packed final day at the PTF-SDA Tennis Complex, Islamabad.
The prestigious championship, now in its 37th edition, is organized annually by the Islamabad Tennis Association. This year's tournament featured over 120 players competing across six categories: Men's Singles & Doubles, Ladies' Singles, Boys' U18 Singles, Boys' U14 Singles, and Girls' U12 Singles.
A total of PKR 850,000 was distributed among winners and runners-up as prize money and travel allowances. Due to a thunderstorm and rain in the capital city, the Men's Singles Final — originally scheduled for 4:00 pm — started later than planned. However, the delay did not dampen the intensity or quality of tennis that followed.
In a thrilling showdown, 23-year-old top seed Muhammad Shoaib of PAF successfully defended his title against Muzammil Murtaza 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-4 in an exhilarating three-set battle that lasted over 2 hours and 58 minutes.
Muzammil started strong, breaking Shoaib early and taking a 3-0 lead but Shoaib quickly adjusted his strategy, breaking back in the fifth game and forcing a tiebreak after both players held serve.
In the tiebreak, Shoaib's early mini-break and consistent pressure earned him a hard-fought 8-6 win in the first set. Muzammil bounced back with renewed focus in the second set, breaking Shoaib's serve in the fourth and sixth games to level the match with a 6-2 win.
In the deciding set, both players showcased exceptional baseline rallies and strategic cross-court play, reaching 4-4. Shoaib then delivered a clinical performance, breaking Muzammil's serve in the ninth game with powerful down-the-line winners. He maintained his composure while serving for the match, forcing unforced errors from his opponent and sealing the final set 6-4. The enthralling final was officiated by ITF White Badge Umpire Husnain Mehmood.
Earlier in the day, in the Junior 18 & Under Singles Final, Muhammad Salar emerged as the champion, defeating promising Islamabad youngster M. Hazik Aasim in a competitive straight-sets match.
Muhammad Shafik, Director Commercial - Air Blue, Majid Bashir, President Islamabad Tennis Association, and the President Pakistan Tennis Federation Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi attended as guests of honor.
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