Pakistan beat Chinese Taipei 3-2 in Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group II final.
Pakistan wins the final after 10 years in Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Aisam-ul-Haq succeed in the reverse single
By.Asghar Ali Mubarak
Pakistan wins the final after 10 years in Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Aisam-ul-Haq succeed in the reverse single
By.Asghar Ali Mubarak
Islamabad–Pakistan beat Chinese Taipei 3-2 to win Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group II final. Pakistan wins the final after 10 years in Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Aisam-ul-Haq succeed in the reverse single against Jui-Chen Hung . Earlier Samir Iftikhar’s failure left Pakistan and Chinese Taipei 1-1 on the first day of the final of Asia/Oceania Group-II at Ulusal Tenis Egitim Merkezi Tennis Club, Izmir, Turkey. Pakistan’s most successful duo in Davis Cup history helped the country take a crucial 2-1 lead on the penultimate day of their Davis Cup encounter against Chinese Taipei in the Turkish city of Izmir on otherday.The seasoned pair of Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan kept their nerves to record an important win in the doubles match of the by beating Chinese Taipei’s duo of Jimmy Wang and Chieh Fu Wang in a four-set thriller with a score of 6-2,6-3,3-6,6-3 in two hour and 35 minutes under the scorching sun on hard courts to provide Pakistan a 2-1 lead in the final of Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group 2 tie.Aisam, who is Pakistan’s playing captain, and Aqeel were in full flow during the match and managed to take their team within striking distance of winning the event and qualifying for Davis Cup Group-I next year.In the first singles match, Aqeel Khan showed his best performance to defeat Chinese Taipei’s No 2 Jui-Chen Hung 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 to help Pakistan take the lead.But in the second singles Samir was beaten by Jimmy Wang. Samir was completely routed by the excellent performance of Jimmy, Chinese Taipei’s No 1.
Samir suffered a straight set defeat 3-6, 2-6, 0-6.
The Pakistan Davis Cup team represents Pakistan in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by the Pakistan Tennis Federation. Pakistan currently competes in the Asia/Oceania Zone of Group II. They reached the World Group Play-offs in 2005, and reached the Eastern Zone final in 1984.Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) hosted a ceremony in honor of Davis Cup team members and captain at Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) before departure to turkey. .
PTF president Salim Saifullah Khan, senior executive vice president Iftikhar Rashid, patron Brig (R) Khalid Khokhar, Hameedul Haq praised the team performance. The PTF president already awarded Rs 300,000 to Aqeel Khan, Rs 100,000 each for participation, bonus and reward respectively while awarded Rs 100,000 each to Abid Ali Akbar and Samir Iftikhar and Rs 50,000 and an expensive gift to captain Hameedul Haq. PTF president Salim Saifullah Khan, senior executive vice president Iftikhar Rashid, patron Brig (R) Khalid Khokhar, congratulated the wining team and lauded the performance of Pakistani players especially Aisam ul haq. “It was a great achievement by Pakistani players and they deserve all the due credit..
The PTF chief felicitated Aqeel Khan for playing for Pakistan in 44 Davis Cup ties said: “This Davis Cup final become historical we fully recognize his services for the country
.Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) is the governing body of tennis in Pakistan. It has played vital role in the development of domestic, national and international tennis in Pakistan. It has produced number of young talented players. It also governed teams such as Pakistan Fed Cup team and Pakistan Davis Cup team.The Pakistan Davis Cup team represents Pakistan in Davis Cup tennis competition and is governed by the Pakistan Tennis Federation. Pakistan was currently competing in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group II final. Pakistani team last time reached in the World Group Play-offs in 2005, and reached the Eastern Zone final in 1984. Pakistani wining team against Chinese Taipei in Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group II final was Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi (ATP #296 & ATP Doubles #19)Aqeel Khan (ATP #761 & ATP Doubles #960)Jalil Khan Yasir Khan (ATP #1796) in the last reverse single Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi beat Chinese Taipei player. He is currently Pakistan’s top player. A top-10 doubles player, his highest singles ranking was no. 125. He is the only Pakistani tennis player to reach the final of a Grand Slam, which he did in 2010, competing in both mixed doubles (partnering with Květa Peschke) and men’s doubles (partnering with Rohan Bopanna) at the US Open.
As Pakistan no. 1, Qureshi has traditionally led Pakistan’s Davis Cup campaigns. After shockingNew Zealand in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I second round play-off in 2004 to survive relegation, he took them to the World Group Play-Offs for the first time in 2005, before they were beaten by Chile. He has won the most Davis Cup matches for Pakistan, being the most successful singles and doubles player from his country ever. He is also part of the most successful doubles pairing for Pakistan (with Aqeel Khan) in the country’s sporting history.
Qureshi teamed with Israeli player Amir Hadad during Wimbledon and the US Open tournaments in 2002. The duo won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award for playing together despite
Davis Cup History of Pakistan Tennis (1948-2010)
In March 1920 All Indian Lawn Tennis Association (AILTA) was formed at Lahore and after getting the Independence from British in 1947 a separate All Pakistan Lawn Tennis Association was formed and Pakistan played its first Davis Cup competition against Switzerland on 2nd May 1948 at Switzerland in which leading ace players Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed and Mehmood Alam were played for Pakistan. Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed won his both singles matches in a convincing manner against European players M/s Hounder and M.Albrecht 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 and 6-1 7-5 1-6 4-6 6-4 respectively. In April 1950, Pakistan’s first Davis Cup victory was created by Mr. Iftikhar Ahmed and Mehmood Alam when both players whitewashed Philippines 5-0 at Manila.In 1984 Pakistan reached the Final of Eastern Zone by beating the strongest team of the Asian Group like Malaysia, 4-1 (January 1984), Indonesia 4-1 (March 1984), Thailand 4-1 (May 1984) but lost the final against Japan.
In 1988 when the format of Davis Cup was changed from Eastren Zone to Asia Oceania Group I & II, Pakistan was placed in Group-II, Pakistan again reached at the Final of AO G2 but unable to maintain the winning lead in the final against Hong Kong. In 1989 Pakistan Tennis was in full swing and maintained the winning pace by beating the Kuwait, Bangladesh and Thailand and qualifies for the Asia Oceania Group-1. In the year 2002 Pakistan Tennis Team was again in its finest shape and beat Malaysia 4-1, Chinese Taipei 4-1 in the 1st and semi-final round respectively. In the Final of AO G-II Pakistan beat the strongest team of Asia, China P.R 3-2 in a convincing victory and reached into the Asia Oceania Group-I and continue to maintain the position in same group upto 2005. In the year 2005 Pakistan leading Ace players Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan create history when they continuously maintained the winning track by beating the strongest teams like New Zealand in 2004, Thailand in 2005 and Chinese Taipei 4-1 in the final of AO G-I and qualify for World Group Playoff for the first time in the history of Pakistan Tennis. During the excellent playing record of Davis Cup in the Asia Region Pakistan produced renowned tennis players like Iftikhar Ahmed, Saeed Hai, Saeed Meer, Haroon Rahim, Islam-ul-Haq, Hameed-ul-Haq, Rashid Malik, Mushaf Zia, Muhammad Khaliq, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan. Our youngest player Haroon Rahim who played Davis Cup at the age of 15 year 107 days while the oldest player is Hamid-ul-Haq who played Davis Cup till at the age of 35 years 34 days. Our Leading tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi played longest Rubber 5 hrs 20 minutes against Mark Nielson New Zealand in September 2004 at Islamabad and longest tie during was also against New Zealand which lasted 16 hrs 20 minutes.
