Davis Cup: Pakistan face mixed fortunes on day one

Team opens account with 1-1 tie against hosts Vietnam.


Natasha Raheel February 14, 2014
Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan, playing the opening singles rubber, defeated Quang-Huy Ngo in a close encounter. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

KARACHI:


Pakistan faced mixed fortunes when they began their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania zone Group II first-round tie against Vietnam on Friday at the 198 Tennis Club in La Dat City.


Pakistan number one Aqeel Khan, playing the opening singles rubber, defeated Quang-Huy Ngo in a close encounter. Aqeel took the first set 6-0 with ease, but his opponent redeemed himself in the second, 6-4, to level the match.

However, with more experience under his belt, Aqeel sealed a 6-3 victory in the third set, to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the tie.

Meanwhile in the second singles match, Muhammad Abid failed to maintain the national squad’s upper hand as he lost the rubber to Thien –Nguyen Hoang 6-3, 6-2, 6-0.

Pakistan still have an edge: Imam

However, with seasoned players such as Aqeel and Aisamul Haq Qureshi on their side, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) President Kaleem Imam stated that the team still had a good chance of winning the tie.

“The team played well on the first day,” Imam told The Express Tribune. “The surface of course suits the local players more, but we still have an edge over Vietnam since they are newcomers.”

Aqeel and Aisam will play the doubles rubber on Saturday against the hosts’ seasoned players Quoc-Khanh Le and Linh Giang Trinh.

“This will be a good match for us,” said Imam. “As far as the courts are concerned, Aqeel has practiced on the hardcourts in Karachi while Aisam has also his share of performance on this surface.

Meanwhile, with regards to the doubles tie, Aqeel told The Express Tribune that this rubber was going to be a crucial match for Pakistan in the Davis Cup.

“It is the responsibility Aisam and I have shared for more than a decade now,” he stated.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2014.

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