Bangladesh’s Zarif Abrar secured a thrilling quarter-final victory to advance to the semi-finals of the 35th Bangladesh World Tennis Tour Juniors J-30, defeating India’s second-seeded Shounak Chatterjee in a dramatic three-set encounter (2-1) at the National Tennis Complex in Ramna today.
Match Overview
| Set | Winner | Score | Notes |
| 1 | Shounak Chatterjee | 7-5 | Chatterjee edged out Zarif in a highly charged opening set. |
| 2 | Zarif Abrar | 6-2 | Zarif bounced back convincingly to level the match. |
| 3 | Zarif Abrar | 7-5 | A nail-biting final set: Zarif came from 3-5 down to clinch the victory. |
The quarter-final was a nearly three-hour battle. Zarif, who entered the tournament aiming to become the champion, now stands just two victories away from his goal.
Decisive Third Set Drama
- Zarif initially took a 3-0 lead, appearing set to secure the set easily.
- Chatterjee staged an incredible comeback, moving ahead 5-3.
- From this critical juncture, Zarif displayed resilience, levelled at 5-5, and then won two consecutive games to take the set 7-5 and secure his semi-final spot.
Zarif attributed his win to a mix of determination and luck: “Today, luck was on my side. I was not supposed to win this match. At one point, I was trailing 3-5. The match turned due to just one gap. The moment just shifted.”
He acknowledged feeling slightly off his game: “I was a bit off today. Alhamdulillah, I managed to cover it. The Indian opponent had a lot of power. It was difficult for me to cover that.”
Zarif expressed confidence for the semi-finals and his ambition to win the tournament: “Inshallah, I will play a good match in the semi-finals. I am very confident that I can be the champion of the tournament.”
He also shared that he drew strength from his father’s advice and prayers to navigate the tough moments on court: “I remembered my father’s guidance and prayers during critical situations, which helped me stay focused and perform well.”
Zarif Abrar’s victory signals a promising run at the Bangladesh World Tennis Tour Juniors J-30, as he looks forward to challenging for the championship title in the coming matches.
