Pakistani Tennis Professionals Rise Above
Pakistan has been producing a number of quality tennis players for over half a decade. As the nation’s tennis legends have put their professions to a halt, the youngsters of this country have taken over and are now, doing their part for the future.
Born in British India, Ahmed-Hasan Khokar was the first ever Pakistani, apart from fellow countryman Mehmoud Alam to play at the Wimbledon Championship in 1948. Khokar however, lost 0-6, 0-6 2-6 to Belgium’s Philippe Washer.
Former Pakistani tennis player, Mehmoud Alam represented the country at the the Davis Cup as well as at the 1948 Wimbledon Championship. Alam fared better than Khokar as he made it to the second round of the Championship. Which also, made him the first ever Pakistani to reach the second round of Wimbledon.
Mehmoud was defeated 7–9, 4–6, 7–5 and 3–6 by Egypt’s, Marcel Coen. The sportsman represented his nation in 2 ties at 1948 Davis Cup against Switzerland. And at the 1950 Davis Cup against Philippines.
The current Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, Khwaja Saeed Hai is the former Pakistani no. 1. The sportsman remains the first ever Pakistani tennis player to make it to the main draw of a grand slam through qualifying matches.
Hai made appearances at the Wimbledon Championship from the year 1954 through 1956. Apart from which, he made it to the first round of the Roland Garros. In 1956, Khwaja played at the U.S. Open prior to which, he played at the 1954 U.S. Open. The athlete also captained and represented Pakistan at the Davis Cup.
Haroon Rahim is amidst fellow country-men, Munawar Iqbal and Saeed Meer. Rahim was the youngest ever player to represent his country at the Davis Cup. Apart from which, the sportsman has two Association of Tennis Professionals titles to his name.
With a career high ranking of no. 44 in the World, Haroon is also the highest ranked Pakistani player to date. The sportsman was also the second Pakistani after Khwaja to make it to the main draw at Wimbledon.
In the years 1970 and 1971, Rahim played a part in leading the University of California team to victory. The athlete was partnered with Jimmy Connors and Jeff Borowiak. Additionally, Haroon also bagged three Men’s doubles titles in his career.
A number of years down the line, Pakistan’s Aisam Ul-Haq Qureshi came onto the tennis scene. The 30 year old athlete is presently ranked no. 3 in all of Asia. Aisam has made regular appearances at most of the major grand slam tournaments. However, the sportsman has yet to bag a grand slam title.
Aisam had a very successful career as a junior tennis player. The athlete finished no. 7 in the world by the year 1998. His ranking made him the highest ranked Pakistani player ever on the international youth tennis arena. ’98 is also the year the sportsperson went professional.
Current Pakistan no. 1, Qureshi, is amongst the top 50 tennis professionals as far as his doubles career goes. For his most recent win, the Pakistani partnered up with India’s Rohan Bopanna. The duo defeated Slovakia’s Karol Beck and Israel’s Harel Levy 6–2, 3–6 and 10-5, to take the 2010 South African Open Men’s doubles title. Furthermore, Aisam won three gold medals at the 2005 Islamic Solidarity games.
Pakistan’s present no. 2, Aqeel Khan went professional in the year 1998. Coached by his father, Jamil Khan, the sportsman was part of the Pakistan team for the 2005 Davis Cup. Khan defeated New Zealand’s Simon Rea, 7–6, 2–6, 3–6, 6–3 and 6–2 in the fifth rubber. Furthermore, he reached the Davis Cup World Group play-offs to face Chile.
Khan and Qureshi have the best doubles partnership for Pakistan so far. Additionally, Aqeel holds a record for being part of a first set tie break that lasted 36 points, at the Davis Cup. Khan also bagged 2 gold and 1 bronze medal at the 2005 Islamic Solidarity games.
The current Pakistani tennis professionals have a lot of potential, and will hopefully, continue to keep doing their nation proud.
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