Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Aqeel Khan take Pakistan to semi-finals of Davis Cup Group Two 2011
Pakistan have defeated Hong Kong 3-2 in the first round of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group Two tie to move to the semi-finals of the championship.
Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi prevailed over Martin Sayer of Hong Kong 7-6, 6-3, 7-6 in the first reverse singles to seal the tie 3-1 for Pakistan on Sunday.
Qureshi took the lead straightaway as he broke Sayer in the opening game of the match. However, his opponent broke back in the sixth game to level the opening set 3-3. Both players held their serve in the next six games to take the set to a tiebreaker in
which Aisam prevailed 10-8 to take a one set lead.
The 30-year-old again broke his opponent early and raced to a 2-0 lead in the second set. Qureshi consolidated on the break and went on to win the second set 6-3.
After getting two sets to love down, Sayer tried to come back in the match as he broke Qureshi’s opening serve to take a 2-0 lead in the third set. However, the Pakistani broke back immediately and held his next serve to level the set 2-2. Fine serving by
both players took the set to a tiebreaker. Qureshi got two mini-breaks early in the tiebreak, winning it 7-4 and with it, the match.
The former world number 125 said, “It was a very close tie, it could have gone either way. I lost the first match that I shouldn’t have, but I believe we picked up when Khan levelled. I think he played the best tennis of his life this week.”
Qureshi added, “As for me, I was a little stiff and had pulled some muscles in the last match, but we had a great team over here that helped me get back. In fact, the Davis Cup ties have given me a good boost for my upcoming events in the US.”
Pakistan’s captain Mushaf Zia decided to enter Samir Iftikhar, the 18-year-old Davis Cup debutant, in the dead 5th rubber. Jonathan Chu defeated Iftikhar in straight sets 6-1, 6-4 to make the tie score 3-2.
Earlier, Qureshi and Aqeel Khan had beaten Chu and Coenie Van Wyk in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 in the doubles match, giving Pakistan a 2-1 lead on Saturday.
On the opening day of the tie, Pakistan number one Qureshi was upset by Hong Kong number two Yu h*i Tung in five gruelling sets 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 4-6 in the first singles to give Hong Kong a surprising 1-0 lead.
However, Aqeel Khan took the revenge as the Pakistan number 2 upset Hong Kong number 1 Sayer in straight sets 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 in the second singles to level the tie 1-1.
Pakistan will meet South Korea in their own backyard in the semi-final in July 2011.
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