Tennis: Aisam, Bopanna triumph in Paris

Pakistani Aisam-Ui-Haq Qureshi (L) and teammate Indian Rohan Bopanna pose with their trophies after winning their double final against French Nicolas Mahut and French Julien Benneteau during the Paris Tennis Masters Series indoor tournament on November 13, 2011. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: There was double joy for Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi as he not only clinched the doubles event of the Paris Masers, partnering Rohan Bopanna of India, but also moved closer to confirming a place at next year’s London Olympics.

In the final, Aisam and Bopanna faced little resistance as they downed the French duo of Julien Benneteau and Nicolas Mahut 6-2, 6-4 in one hour and five minutes to win their first ATP Masters tournament – the pair’s third title of the season. Aisam also won the Thailand Open with Austrian player Oliver Marach earlier this year.

The victory in Paris propelled Aisam to ninth spot in the players’ individual doubles rankings and all the Pakistani now has to do is to keep his place in the top 10 till May 2012 to confirm his place in the London Olympics.

Aisam, who has already qualified with Bopanna for the London Masters that start on November 20, said the Indo-Pak pair’s third title of the current season also put to bed the notion that the duo choked in crucial games. “We’ve proved a lot of people wrong this year,” Aisam told The Express Tribune. “A lot of people said we can’t win the finals in big events. I’ve achieved all my goals
this year.

“We won our first ATP Masters tournament and I got my rankings back in the top 10. Our team rankings will be in the top five and we’ll get to play the London Masters. We missed out on a Grand Slam but I’m confident that we will win one next year.”

Aisam said his goal was to maintain a place in the top 10 till May, which will guarantee him a London ticket. “I need to maintain my ranking till May and I’ll ensure I play in the Olympics.”

Aqeel sets sights on Olympics

While Aisam aims to reach the last-eight at the London Masters to consolidate a place in the Olympics, back home Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan is also setting his sights on partnering the tennis ace.

Aqeel seems to be the obvious choice to partner Aisam at the Olympics and has said he needed to improve his game for Pakistan to stand a good chance.

“I’ve spoken to him and we’re focusing on the OIympics, provided he manages to stay in the top 10. His win at the Paris Masters has just made me feel that I’ve got to improve a lot.”

Federer claims maiden title

Meanwhile, former world number one Roger Federer won the singles event, capturing his maiden Paris Masters title with a 6-1, 7-6 win against local favourite and sixth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The Swiss third-seed became only the second player after Andre Agassi with titles at Roland Garros and Bercy – the two men’s Paris tournaments – thanks to an 85-minute display of sheer brilliance.

Federer raced to a 4-0 lead and bagged the opening set in 30 minutes against a hapless Tsonga thanks to his sharp first serve and devastating forehand.

The Frenchman fought back in the second set, threatening to break on two occasions, but the contest was eventually thrown into a tiebreak which Federer won 7-3. with additional input from reuters

Aisamul Haq

“We won our first ATP Masters tournament and I got my rankings back in the top 10. Our team rankings will be in the top five and we’ll get to play the London Masters. We missed out on a Grand Slam but I’m confident that we will win one next year.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th,  2011.