KARACHI, Dec 23: Pakistan No 1 Saba Aziz and talented Syed Zohair Raza ended the year on a new high by capturing the ladies singles and juniors’ under-18 titles respectively in the UBL international hard court tennis championship at the Karachi Gymkhana on Friday.

Unfortunately, both the finals fell short of expectations and disappointed the fraternity of the game.

Top seed Saba from Lahore completely outplayed Maheen Dada straight 6-0, 6-0 in the lack lusture final that lasted for 45 minutes, to capture her third successive national ranking crown.

Saba, who represented the country in Fed Cup at Bangkok earlier this year, enjoyed complete grip over her opponent.

Maheen, who lacks experience, had no answer to Saba’s powerful forehand and backhand drives.

“I have come prepared to add another feather in my cap which I did in convincing fashion,” Saba, who has graduated from University of London as external candidate, told Dawn after her triumph.

Asked about her plans, Saba said she was looking forward for selection in Pakistan team for the next Fed Cup being held at China in January.

The victory earned Saba a winning purse of Rs75,000 while Maheen pocketed Rs35,000.

In fact, Saba claimed a double crown as teaming up with Aqeel, the pair defeated the duo of M. Abid Mushtaq and Maheen Dada 6-4, 6-1 to win the mixed doubles title.

Third seed Zohair annexed the juniors’ under-18 title after his second seed opponent Adil Kohari retired while trailing 0-5 in the first set of the final.

Adil, who overcame fighting Nadaraja Nishangan of Sri Lanka 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2 in quarter-final and Ahmed Chaudhary of Islamabad 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 in pre-final had developed severe pain in his right elbow which forced him to concede the match.

Zohair received Rs25,000 while Adil got Rs15,000.

The veteran’s doubles title went to former stalwarts Rashid Malik and Hamid-ul-Haq who accounted for Nauman Aleem and Imran Ahmed 6-2, 6-1.

The brothers pair of Aqeel and Yasir Khan won the men’s doubles honours by getting the better of Hyderabad pair of Engr.

Saad Baloch and Dr. Umer Qazi 6-2, 7-6(5).

Curtain falls on the weeklong event on Saturday when Pakistan’s top player Aqeel Khan meets M. Abid Mushtaq in the men’s singles final.

Tennis celebrity Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, who has recently got married in Lahore, will be specially coming to grace the occasion.

Results: Ladies singles: Final: Saba Aziz (Lahore) bt Maheen Dada 6-0, 6-0. Juniors’ under-18 singles: Final: Syed Zohair Raza bt Adil Kohari 5-0 (retired). Men’s doubles: Final: Aqeel Khan and Yasir Khan bt Saad Baloch and Dr. Umer Qazi (Hyderabad) 6-2, 7-6 (5).Mixed doubles: Final: Aqeel Khan and Saba Aziz bt M. Abid Mushtaq and Maheen Dada 6-4, 6-1. Veteran’s doubles: Final: Rashid Malik and Hamid-ul-Haq bt Nauman Aleem and Imran Ahmed 6-2, 6-1. Saturday’s fixtures: Men’s single final: Aqeel Khan v M. Abid Mushtaq at 2.30pm.