Eala earns swift US Open win vs Oliynykova to reach 3rd round

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal delivered a commanding performance to secure a place in the final of the PN Fleet Club Open International Squash Championship, keeping the country’s title hopes alive with a convincing straight-games victory in the semi-finals. Competing at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex, Nasir outclassed Egypt’s Yase Al Shafe in an impressive display that lasted just 24 minutes. The Pakistani star dominated throughout the contest, winning 11-5, 11-7 and 11-5 to book his spot in Tuesday’s final. Nasir looked in complete control from the opening game, combining aggressive shot-making with precise movement around the court. His clinical performance left his Egyptian opponent with little opportunity to recover, underlining the form that has made him one of Pakistan’s standout performers in the tournament. The victory has raised hopes of another international title for Pakistan, with Nasir now just one win away from lifting the prestigious trophy. In the other semi-final, Pakistan’s Asim Khan saw his campaign come to an end after suffering a 3-1 defeat against Egypt’s Salman Khalil. Despite a determined effort, Asim was unable to overcome the Egyptian player, who advanced to set up a final showdown with Nasir Iqbal. The championship, organized by the Sindh Squash Association, has attracted top international players and carries a prize purse of $41,000, making it one of the region’s significant squash events. The final is scheduled to be played on Tuesday at 4:00 pm, where Nasir will aim to cap his outstanding run with the championship title. His impressive form throughout the tournament has generated excitement among Pakistani squash fans, who are hoping to see another memorable triumph on home soil. With confidence high and momentum firmly on his side, Nasir Iqbal now stands on the brink of adding another major international achievement to Pakistan’s rich squash legacy.

CINCINNATI: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka survived a tense challenge from Australia’s Talia Gibson on Sunday, needing six match points to secure a straight-sets victory and book her place in the third round of the Cincinnati Masters. Sabalenka eventually prevailed 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) in just under two hours on a windswept Grandstand Court, but the second set turned into a nerve-testing battle. The Belarusian appeared close to victory when she created five match points in the 12th game. Gibson, however, refused to surrender, saving all five before forcing the set into a tiebreak. Sabalenka kept her composure when it mattered most, dominating the tiebreak before sealing the match with a final winner. “I’m super tired; this is crazy weather,” Sabalenka said after the contest, praising Gibson for becoming more aggressive and putting greater pressure on her serve. The victory keeps Sabalenka’s bid for another deep Cincinnati run alive. She won the tournament in 2024 and is hoping to build momentum ahead of the US Open, where she will be chasing her first Grand Slam title of the 2026 season. Sabalenka has already captured three titles this year, although her most recent triumph came in Miami in March. Meanwhile, Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina advanced comfortably with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Taylor Townsend. The world No. 2 arrived in Cincinnati after finishing runner-up to Iga Swiatek in Toronto. French Open champion Mirra Andreeva produced an even more emphatic performance, crushing Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-0 while saving all seven break points she faced. Defending champion Swiatek also moved forward, defeating Colombia’s Emiliana Arango 6-3, 6-0. American fourth seed Coco Gauff battled back from a slow start to defeat Liudmila Samsonova 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, winning the final five games. The day ended on a disappointing note for American Ben Shelton, however, as the world No. 6 was eliminated by Portugal’s Jaime Faria.

Naseem Shah has responded to concerns about his fitness. He is preparing for his return to competitive cricket. The pacer says injuries are simply a part of the game. According to him, they should not be seen as a sign of poor conditioning. The 23-year-old has been out since April. He suffered a side strain while playing for Rawalpindiz in PSL 11. The injury ruled him out for the rest of that tournament. He has not played a competitive match since. He is now set to make his comeback. The stage will be the National Champions Cup. It is a 50-over tournament featuring four teams. These are Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues and Pakistan Gold. The event runs from August 11 to 18. It will be held at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Naseem has been picked for the Pakistan Greens squad. All-rounder Shadab Khan will lead the side. The tournament also plays a bigger role. It forms part of Pakistan’s build-up to the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Selectors are currently tracking a wider pool of 44 players. Speaking to the media, Naseem explained an important distinction. He said physical fitness and match fitness are not the same thing. An injury during a match or training session does not mean a player is unfit. He added that any player can get hurt while playing. He also spoke about workload management. He said today’s game demands careful planning from players. Cricket keeps evolving, and fast bowlers must adapt with it. This, he said, is now part of the job. Naseem also touched on Pakistan’s fast-bowling legacy. He said success was never just about raw pace. Line and length, he explained, matter just as much as speed. He credited this balance for the team’s past bowling success. On his own pace, Naseem stayed confident. He said he still bowls at competitive speeds. In T20 cricket, he touches close to 140 kilometres per hour. He noted that one-day cricket brings a different challenge altogether. He ended by addressing his availability. Naseem said he is ready for any format. He added that it is not his job to choose. His only responsibility, he said, is to play whenever Pakistan calls upon him.