Pakistan succumb to New Zealand in Davis Cup

Pakistan number one Aisam went down in straight sets against New Zealand number one Jose Statham. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: New Zealand shattered Pakistan hopes of advancing in the Davis Cup as the hosts staged a remarkable comeback to win both reverse singles matches on the final day to record a 3-2 victory in the Asia/Oceania Group II semi-final at Hawera.

New Zealand trailing 2-1, came back strongly through their number one Jose Statham and Davis Cup debutant Austin Child. Statham, 390th on the world rankings, levelled for his side after overcoming Pakistan number one and Wimbledon doubles quarter-finalist, Aisamul Haq Qureshi 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 in the first reverse singles clash of the day.

Child then sealed victory for New Zealand with an emphatic 6-1, 6-3 and 6-3 straight-set win over Aqeel Khan to take his side into the group final.

Statham took full advantage of home conditions as he comfortably beat an exhausted Aisam, who won a marathon singles match that stretched for almost five hours on the first day.

“I was very tired as playing for consecutive three days is not an easy job”, Aisam told The Express Tribune following Pakistan’s loss.

The defeat keeps Pakistan in Group II of the zone and the national team will have to wait for another year to seek promotion to Group 1. On the other hand, New Zealand will face the winner of the other semi-final between Thailand and Indonesia, in the final to be played in September.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 12^th, 2010.