MADRID: After having overcome one of his biggest nemesis in men’s double tennis, the Bryan brothers, Aisamul Haq Qureshi lost out to his former partner Rohan Bopanna in the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.
Qureshi, and partner, Dutch tennis player Jean-Julien Rojer, lost to the all Indian pair of Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupatti, lost a closely fought match 7-6, 7-6.
The hour and 45 minute match promised more than just a place in the semi-finals, but also bragging rights. Qureshi had for long partnered with Bopanna, a partnership which had taken them as far as the US Open Men’s doubles final.
The duo of Qureshi and Rojer had earlier on Thursday defeated top-seeds and favourites Bob and Mike Bryan 4-6, 6-4, 18-16 in the second round of the Madrid Open.
Aisam and Rojer saved five match-points against their opponents, ensuring the one-hour-32-minute match swayed in both directions before the Bryans, the most successful doubles team in the sport, had their fate sealed by the rejuvenated pair who has now won 11 of their 20 matches this year.
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Aisam is a hope for future tennis players.
He is a start of Pakistani tennis, not end. Well done Aisam!
Headline shows the warped Pakistani thinking that characterizes Pakistani mentality when it comes to India. Aisam PARTNERED with someone; it is a DOUBLES game. Therefore, the question of Aisam losing to Bopanna does not arise. For pete's sake, get a life, Pakistanis. There is more to the world than India.
Aisam & Roger played very well but could not finish it off in both the sets...Still hats off to them for beating top seeds Bryan Brothers to whom Aisam had lost in US Open final while pairing with Bopanna..Weldone!
Good luck for future, do not worry Qureshi...
One step closer to kissing goodbye to Pakistan's Olympics tennis dream. With this defeat, the chances for Aisam to qualify are remote indeed.
@mani - Bopanna actually broke up as he wanted to partner with Bhupathi as part of Olympics preparation.
why did he break up with bopanna?