Davis Cup: Pakistan defeat Sri Lanka 3-2 in first tie

Aisam, Aqeel to face New Zealand in second round.

KARACHI: Pakistan got past the first round of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone II as Aisamul Haq Qureshi won the deciding fifth rubber to Dineshkanthan Thangarajah 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to ensure a victory against Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday.

Pakistan began their  campaign at the  tournament when Aqeel Khan won the first rubber against Thangarajah, but Aisam lost to the local top seed Harshana Godamanna the same day in the singles match as the result stood 1-1.

However, Pakistan picked up the pace on the second day with a win in the doubles match which Aisam and Aqeel won in more than two hours against Godamanna and Rajeev Rajapakse 3-2 as Pakistan took the lead 2-1.

But the final day spelt a  different story, as Aqeel lost the first reverse singles match to Godamanna 6-4 6-3 6-4 with Sri Lanka levelling the tie score to 2-2, which left all the responsibility to Aisam in the fifth rubber to decide the result.

According to Aqeel, the strategy was to hold up the hosts in the last match as Godamanna was the  strongest player for Sri Lanka. Therefore, Pakistan could only take advantage over a weaker link in the opponent’s team. Aisam did just that by winning the   decisive rubber in four hours and five minutes against a much younger Thangarajah.



“It was really hot and humid and the weather was certainly not on our side,” Aisam told The Express Tribune. “It was a tough tie
primarily because of the heat but I’m glad we have retained our unbeaten record against Sri Lanka. This should take us ahead in our next round; hopefully we would repeat the same performance.”

Pakistan will play New Zealand – who defeated Lebanon last Saturday 5-0 in their first round tie – in the next round in April.

Pakistan have played three ties against New Zealand
previously and won only one.

According to Aqeel,  defeating the Kiwis on their home turf will be
challenging. However, the team will try their best despite being forced to play their home ties away.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2013.