LAHORE – Pakistan’s rising tennis star Muhammad Shoaib continued his impressive form at the McDonald’s Pakistan ITF Championship 2026 (ITF M-15 Leg-2) by advancing to the men’s singles semifinals with a hard-fought victory at the PTF Tennis Complex. The in-form Pakistani defeated Turkey’s Kerem Yilmaz 6-4, 7-6(9) in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter, once again showcasing remarkable composure and consistency under pressure.
Shoaib, who recently captured the ITF M-15 Leg-1 title in Islamabad, maintained his winning momentum with another mature performance against a determined opponent. The triumph marked another significant milestone in Shoaib’s rapidly progressing career, as he became the first Pakistani player after Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan to reach back-to-back ITF men’s semifinals. His consistent performances over the two legs of the tournament have not only boosted Pakistan’s profile in international tennis but also highlighted the emergence of a promising new talent capable of competing regularly at the professional level.
Other Quarterfinal Results
Meanwhile, several other quarterfinal matches also produced exciting contests. Sweden’s Arvid Nordquist advanced to the semifinals after defeating Turkey’s Mert Naci Turker 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets. Russia’s Nikita Ianin secured his place in the final four with a hard-fought 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Kazakhstan’s Grigoriy Lomakin. In another quarterfinal, Italy’s Edoardo Cherie Ligniere defeated Algeria’s Samir Hamza Reguig 7-5, 6-2 to move into the semifinals.
Doubles Action
The doubles event also witnessed intense competition as Russia’s pair of Andrei Kunitsyn and Nikita Ianin overcame Pakistan’s Muzammil Murtaza and Grigoriy Lomakin 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinal. In the other doubles semifinal, the Turkish duo of Mert Naci Turker and Melih Anavatan advanced after receiving a walkover against Kerem Yilmaz and Canada’s Adam Farag-Cao.
