KARACHI, April 3 The opening day of the Sindh Open ranking tennis championship was marred by walkovers at a local club on Friday.

According to results, the men`s singles first round witnessed at least three walkovers out of eight fixtures. Afaq Ahmed was awarded a walkover against local boy Fahad Shoukat.

Masood Malik moved into the next round by getting a walkover against Lahore`s Faizan Ahmed who didn`t report despite his presence in the city. Similarly, Hamza Pataudi advanced when his opponent Talha Khalid, a new entrant, failed to turn up.

Under the Sindh Tennis Association (STA) rule, a player who fails to show up for a tie without any valid reason is penalised with 10 suspension points. In case of repetition, he is again penalised same points in addition to a fine of Rs500.

“Since its imposition about a-year-and-a-half back to stop the menace, the STA has penalised more than a dozen players who have also deposited fine,” its secretary Khalid Rehmani told Dawn in response to a query.

Seeded players Aqeel Khan, Jalil Khan, Nomi Qamar and Yasir Khan who got a first round bye are due to make their appearance on Saturday.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be focused on the performance of a couple of players who have recently undergone strenuous training under the supervision of Rashid Malik, a veteran Davis Cupper and national coach, in the city.

Results

Men`s singles (first round)

M. Bilal Soomro bt Saad (MirpurKhas) 6-0, 6-0; Afaq Ahmed walkover Fahad Shoukat; Salman Ahmed bt Waqas Abid 6-0, 6-3; Masood Malik walkover Faizan Ahmed (Lahore); Asadullah Khan bt Mohammed Avais Fasih 6-0, 6-0; Saad Bin Arif bt Farhan Ahmed 6-3, 6-3; Arshad Shahid Maniya bt Ahmed Ali Rasheed 6-1, 6-2; Hamza Pataudi walkover Talha Khalid.

Second round Syed Abbas Raza bt Masood Malik 6-0, 6-1.

Saturday`s fixtures

Juniors` under-17 singles 9.00am; men`s singles second round 12.00noon; ladies singles and men`s doubles 3.30pm.