Picking up a victory here and a victory there, the Indo-Pak Express is still very much on course chugging along. What do they say about winning races by going slow and steady?
Not so successful when playing solo, Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and India’s Rohan Bopanna came into their own as a team when they partnered for the first time at the Manchester Trophy at Manchester, UK, in 2003. The event saw them reaching the semi-finals.
Next, they won the Colorado Classic in Denver, USA. But Aisam back then was experimenting with several partners of the likes of India’s Harsh Mankad, Mustafa Ghouse, Australia’s Alexander Peya, Turkey’s Tuomas Ketola, Holland’s Rogier Wassen and, the most controvesial of all, Israel’s Amir Hadad, a pairing that was condemned by many in Pakistan. So when Aisam finally paired up with Rohan on a regular basis, it was more acceptable to be playing with an Indian player than an Israeli one.
Still, about his partners, Aisam reasons, “First of all, the game should be above politics and diplomacy. Then, there are hardly any other Pakistanis or Muslims playing tennis at my level and ranking so I don’t really have a choice when it comes to taking on partners. Plus I’m a peace-loving citizen of the world and I see everyone else that way, too.”
Other than reaching the doubles final in a Grand Slam event like the US Open, which earned them major recognition, the duo have also won the LTA Manchester Trophy (2007), Aisam and Rohan’s second triumph after the Manchester Trophy. And last week brought them another victory in the shape of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany.
The Gerry Weber Open final between the Indo-Pak pair and the Dutch-Canadian pair of Robin Haase and Milos Raonic was a matter of one hour and 19 minutes where the former overcame the latter 7-6 (8), 3-6, 11-9. Failing to convert any of the four breakpoints, three in the opening set, dropping the second set, they still held their nerves in the Super Tie break to clinch the title.
The win has come just in time as it will be a morale booster for the boys just ahead of the Wimbledon. The Gerry Weber Open is known as a warm-up event for the Wimbledon anyway.
“I’m really happy that we won our last two matches in tie-breaks. It’s going to make us mentally tougher and believe in ourselves even more. We’re just looking forward to the rest of the year. Our goal is to win a Grand Slam title and to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, and this is one step forward,” said an excited Aisam after the win.
Well, it would be phenomal if they are able to achieve something like that but for now we are also proud of what they are have done already and what they are doing outside the court as well. Their campaign, “Stop war, start tennis”, with the goal to play a match on the Wagah Border is a great and positive initiative. It may not have received clearance from the Pakistan government as yet but it has earned them the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year for 2010.
It is also good that the 31-year-old Aisam has realised that his success lies in doubles events (reaching the US Open mixed doubles with Czech teammate Kveta Peschk another case in point) and he concentrates on them more now. The son of Nausheen Iftikhar-Ehtasham, Pakistan’s number one tennis player for 10 years, and grandson of Khawaja Iftikhar, the All-India champion before partition, this son of the soil is bound to do more great things for his country in the days to come.
As of now, the Indo-Pak Express is all fuelled up and picking up speed once again before it reaches its next stop… Wimbledon!
news covered by dawn sports
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