Abedallah Shelbayh's hope of winning the Bahrain Tennis Challenger received a major boost in the event being organised by the Public Security Sports Federation.
In his quarterfinal tie of this ATP Challenger Tour, being held at the Public Security Officers Club in Gudaibiya, Shelbayh stunned the tournament's No.1 Australian Jason Kubler in a three-set thriller. Sets scores were 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(2).
The 19-year-old Jordanian rising tennis hope, who has a 399 ATP ranking, started the match well and managed to shock his Australian opponent who has a better world ranking of 79.
However, the 29-year-old Kubler came back roaring in the second set which he won to extend the match to to a third and deciding set.
The final set was a neck and neck affair as both players put in their best efforts, but it was Shelbayh who prevailed with some solid performance and outstanding stamina to secure the set and with it the match and a berth in the competition's semifinals.
Shelbayh will now take on Italy's Salvatore Caruso, in the semifinal tie today.
In the other semifinal, Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany will take on eighth ranked Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia.
Struff defeated Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-4 while Kokkinakis edged compatriot Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 7-6(5) in the other quarterfinal matches held earlier yesterday.
The men's doubles semi finals also took place yesterday as the pair of R. Gonzales and F. Romboli defeated R. Jebavy and-5, partner J. O'mara 7-5, 4-6, 10-5 to srg up their final clash with the team of Niklas Salminen and B. Stevens, who defeated R. Arneodo and S. Weissborn 6-2, 2-6, 10-4.
