Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi rejects grudges with Rohan Bopanna – Tennis News
Pakistani number one Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi ruled out any bitterness towards his former ATP World Tour doubles partner Indian partner, Rohan Bopanna after he broke the Indo Pak Express for an Indian veteran Mahesh Bhupathi.
Qureshi – Bopanna duo saw their best season this year as they won titles at Halle and Stockholm ATP World Tour 250 series events. In addition to this, the tandem grabbed their first ATP Masters 1000 title in Paris this month after
defeating local wild card enterers Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut in straight sets. As a result, they reached their career high rank at number five in the South African Airways ATP World Tour Doubles Rankings and easily qualified for the Barclays ATP World
Tour Finals. They also reached last four at the US Open and made a quarter-final berth at the French Open.
Despite enjoying an awesome season, Bopanna decided to part ways with the Pakistani, stating that he is looking forward to qualify for the Olympics next year.
The Indian left Qureshi to pair up with his compatriot Bhupathi who has recently split up with his veteran doubles partner Leander Paes. Bhupathi and Paes are currently ranked at number four in the doubles rankings and bagged titles
at Chennai, Miami and Cincinnati ATP events. They were also the runner-ups at the Australian Open and Queen’s Club in London.
"As the season has ended now, I can confirm that I am playing with Mahesh [Bhupathi] in 2012," Bopanna told Indian Express and gave no reason for the split.
Qureshi, however, told the Press Trust of India that they both wanted to qualify for the Olympics Games which are taking place next year.
"We want to cement our places in the Olympic Games and have decided to play with new partners in the doubles," he said.
The 31-year-old Pakistani is hopeful of pairing up with Dutchman Jean-Julien Roger, who also won three titles (Estoril, Nice and Kuala Lumpur ATP World Tour 250 series events) with his American partner, Eric Butorac.
The Pakistani also declined reports that bitterness ended their partnership.
"It ended on a good note and we will continue to be good friends and ambassadors of peace. I have invited him to my wedding and he has promised to attend,'' he stated.
Their friendship will last forever regardless of ending their partnership. Bopanna, on the other hand, is eager to attend his friend’s wedding and is gearing up for the new season. Furthermore, both have started practicing for
the new season.
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