Bopanna-Qureshi still busy during off-season; hope to further improve in 2011
The Indian-Pakistani duo of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, who are commonly known as ‘The Indo-Pak Express’, have hardly spent any time at home since making their way into the final of the year’s fourth Grand Slam, the
United States Open back in September.
They recently received the 2010 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award during the season finale Barclays ATP World Your Finals in London.
“It has been crazy. I have only been at home for fifteen days since the United States Open. I have not had much time to do anything. In December, I am planning on playing some exhibition clashes and Bopanna has been very kind to
offer to help out. I am looking to generate some funds through the exhibitions. Now I am a United Nations Ambassador, I am planning trips to a few sites once I get home to try and create awareness amongst Pakistanis. I have learned a lot through this sport
and promised Pakistanis I will do my level best to help them in anyway,” said Qureshi.
Over the last few months, the 30-year-old top ranked Pakistani, Aisam has combined a tennis career with his assistance for the relief effort, following the worst floods in Pakistan’s history that affected nearly fourteen million
people.
As a pair, Rohan and Aisam made their way into a total of seven tour-level title battles in 2010. Their worldwide fame was highlighted when the two of them finished third in the ATPWorldTour.com Fans’ Favourite doubles pair poll.
“With our rankings we could not get into the big events at the start of the year, but now we will be seeded and will be able to plan our schedules and know where we will be playing. Sometimes this year, we have been waiting until
the last minute before boarding a flight. Reaching the United States Open final and performing so well in the Davis Cup tie versus Brazil afterwards really opened the eyes of some people. I have not spent much time at home since then. The confidence that I
got in doubles supported me in the singles match against Thomaz Bellucci,” declared Bopanna.
The right handed Qureshi while commenting on his performance over the last twelve months said that he is extremely pleased with the way he is finishing the season on the tour. He made his entire country proud of him by reaching
both the mixed as well as doubles final at the United States Open earlier this year in New York. Despite losing on both occasions, he set his name in the annals of history as the first Pakistani tennis player to ever reach the finals at the sport’s biggest
event on the tour.
Their competitors on the tour have also shown a great level of confidence in their talent over the recent past as the American number one duo of Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan said that they are sure that both of them will make it into
the elite eight team field at the World Tour Finals in London next year.
Rohan and Aisam while talking to the media about their future plans said that they will try to further improve their game and will play with greater level of confidence as one of the dangerous pairs on the tour, to be seeded at
the major events in 2011.
Tags: