JEDDAH, 19 July 2003 — Pakistan’s Zulfikar Ahmed completed a grand double in the inaugural Prince Talal ibn Mansour Tennis Cup, when he added the singles title yesterday to the doubles crown he had won with his brother Waqar on Thursday.
Before a capacity crowd at the Albilad Hotel Tennis Courts, Zulfikar’s match against Filipino Manny Valleramos was brought to a premature end when the latter was forced to concede the final following an injury. Valleramos pulled his hamstring during a fall while trying to reach a deep angled shot from Zulfikar late in the first set, but though he continued the injury took its toll as the match progressed.
But prior to this incident, Zulfikar was on full throttle, and was steaming toward the title. The top seed had already taken the first set at 6-4, after breezing to a 3-0 start in the set, and was already 5-0 up in the second set, when Valleramos conceded the match.
Valleramos was given first aid on the court and the game Filipino returned to complete the match. Though he tried to fight back, Zulfikar racked up the numbers swiftly in the second set. With the injury bothering Valleramos and the top-seed chugging along smoothly, the Filipino threw in the towel when he realized all was lost.
Zulfikar, noting that the injury had rendered the Filipino veteran ineffective, played coolly and effected neat placements to wear down Valleramos. Zulfikar, who executed some crisp vollies and deep strokes during the encounter, said ‘Manny would have given him a good fight’ and had looked forward to a keen match.
“If Manny had not been injured, it could have been a challenging match,” said Zulfikar who was ranked No. 1 junior in Pakistan from 1976-78.
Since then he has had many successes, including the championship of All Pakistan Inter Board Championship in 1977, All Pakistan Inter Services Championship during 1980-83, and then in the Kingdom from 1987 to 2001 during which he won or was finalist in various championships.
“I was looking forward to play against Zulfikar but it was unfortunate that I became helpless, especially after the injury I sustained while returning the volley with the match neatly poised at 5-3 in the first set,” Valleramos said through a film of pain soon after announcing his retirement.
“I’m frustrated because the tournament was so good throughout and it had to end like this,” said Valleramos whose initial success in the game was when he was the top player in the Philippines in 1981-83. He also held No. 700 ATP ranking, and was the gold medal recipient in the Southeast Asian Games in 1983.
He then came to the Kingdom and won or was a finalist in many championships. In 1989 to 1999 he was the champion of All Filipino Tennis Tournament. Earlier, in 1992 he won the Jeddah Open Championship.
Mohammed Salem A. Bakheet, chief executive, Al-Mansour Group, presented Zulfikar the trophy and the cash prize of SR20,000 on behalf of Prince Talal ibn Mansour. Zulfikar also received a Tudor watch.
Valleramos received the runner-up trophy, cash prize of SR10,000 and a return Larnaca ticket from Cyprus Airways. Abdul Rahman Omar, the top Saudi finisher of the tournament, also received a trophy.
Bakheet congratulated the recently established Jeddah Tennis Organization on staging the tournament on a professional level and said: “The event had helped in discovering many young talents, both among Saudis and expats.”
Bakheet also thanked cosponsors Attar Travel, Tudor Watches, Cyprus Airways, British Airways and Abuljadayel Beverages (Bison) for supporting the event. “We’ve plans to make this an annual summer festival event and hope to receive cooperation from these and other sponsors in the future.”
Bob Wilson, manager of the recreation center at Albilad Hotel, said: “It’s a pity that Manny had to retire. I think the game was good and could have gone on well, but for his injury.”
Azizullah Mohammed Nazir, a Pakistani security supervisor, said he was thrilled to be in the spectators’ gallery all through the tournament.
“Tennis is my pastime, but the kind of tennis I’ve seen is something great. Some of them had the look of a professional in their approach and technique. I’ve been here for 20 years and tennis was fading here. We must thank Prince Talal for not only reviving tennis but raising its level that the tournament demonstrated.”
Faiz Ullah, Gul Tasir and Gul Mubarak, all Pakistanis, said the tennis played during the past two weeks was refreshing.
“The inaugural tournament was well staged. We hope to plan on a bigger scale next year,” Rod Siquijor, executive assistant at Prince Talal’s Office, said. “We’ve plans to organize a tennis tournament at school level,” Angelo Quitorio, adviser to Prince Talal said.
Congratulating the winners were JeTO Board Chairman Serge Taga, Tournament Committee Chairman Roberto Saavedra, Tournament Director Jovie Llevares who also played in the tournament, and Tournament Referee Reggie Sanosa.
