ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal stormed into the semifinals of the $10,000 Emerson RCP Series 2014 Squash Championship, currently underway in St Louis, USA, after brushing aside number 6 seed Sebastiaan Weenink of Netherlands 3-0 in 45 minutes in the quarterfinals played on Friday.
While talking with The Nation on Friday, Nasir said: “I was fully aware about the Weenink abilities and fully prepared for the task ahead. Now another hurdle between me and title lies in the shape of my semifinal opponent 3rd seed Arturo Salazar of Mexico, who is rated very highly by the squash circuits for his agility and powerful strokes. I will try to repeat same performance and will not allow him to dictate terms, if I played according to my abilities the title is mine to lose.”
Nasir started a bit slowly in the first game and Weenink took advantage by taking a 7/3 lead in the first game. But Nasir finally settled down in the game and first level the game at 7-7, and then took 9/7 lead. Weenink drew the level again at 9-9 but Nasir managed to clinch next two points to win the game 11-9. Second game started in the same fashion as Weenink once again dictated in the early stages of the game and took 4-0 lead. But Nasir continued to resist until Weenink was leading 7-5. From that point, Nasir won next six points in a row to clinch the second game 11/7. The real battle was witnessed in the third game as both players fought for every point. As score was tied at 10-10. Once again Nasir emerged as winner by taking next two points to win the game 12-10 as well as the match in straight sets in 45 minutes.