How the mighty have fallen: A Saeed state of affairs

Once rated world’s fastest server, now has to ask for financial help after being forgotten

KARACHI: Touted in his time as the world’s fastest server, former Davis Cupper Syed Saeed Meer inspired many in Pakistan to take up tennis.

But on Tuesday, nearly 32 years after hanging up his boots, Saeed goes into a major surgery forgotten by his own countrymen and worrying about covering the Rs1.5 million minimum cost that his open-heart surgery will incur.

“The problem with his heart surfaced on March 18,” Meer’s daughter, Shayaan Meer, told The Express Tribune. “He has been in and out of the hospital since. The doctors have told us that his heart valves need to be changed. It’s a bypass surgery. His valves are leaking.”

Tragedy has struck the Meer household without warning. “Before this he was healthy and was actively coaching as well,” said Shayaan. “He has always been so passionate about tennis, he would even coach for free; it really never was about money for him. But now we are financially drained as treatment has been costly.”

The 28-year-old Shayaan is the elder of Saeed’s two siblings and has been trying every day to get the financial help to pay for the medical assistance her father needs.





The man who represented Pakistan at the Davis Cup for a decade in the 70s is unsurprisingly bullish; refusing to ask for help despite being so physically weak that he is almost unable to walk.

“It’s hard to see him this way, but he is keeping his spirits up and staying strong, and that inspires us too, so we try to do whatever we can to make sure he is healthy again,” said Shayaan.

Money was not always an issue as Saeed was the highest paid player among developing countries in the 80s.

But some poor investments have led to financial trouble. “He feels bad for not getting any returns on the money he invested but he was more passionate about helping others than earning,” said Shayaan. “That is how I’ve always seen my father.”



Saeed’s profile as an international player is impressive. His Davis Cup record stands at 18 singles rubbers won and only eight lost. Saeed also won the West of England Championship and East of England Championship, and after turning pro in 1973, played at Wimbledon and the US Open in 1974, reaching the second round of both grand slams.

The 69-year-old also boasts a win over former Australian number one and Wimbledon winner Roy Emerson.

Meer was a coach at Beach View Club and has written a book ‘Learn to Play Tennis in Six Weeks’ in order to make tennis more accessible for aspiring players.

More dignity for legends

Pakistan’s most seasoned Davis Cup player and current national champion Aqeel Khan feels it is discouraging and disheartening to hear about Saeed’s predicament and it sends a negative message to those who want to pursue tennis as a career in Pakistan.

“What message do we get from this? That a man who dedicates his life to sports, earns accolades and makes his nation proud gets nothing but suffering in return?” asked Aqeel.



The 36-year-old believes the government needs to do more for such stars. “It is the sports ministry’s job to take care of the players; the Pakistan Sports Board should have a fund for such players,” he said. “They recognise those who win medals, but once they get old, they should die in misery and obscurity?”

Aqeel added that Saeed’s name is still recognised all over Asia, even if it has been forgotten in Pakistan. “Even now when we go to play our Davis Cup ties, people remember Saeed,” he said. “He was the fastest server in Asia, he is very well-known and all the older Davis Cuppers would mention him whenever we see them on tour.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tennis Federation secretary Khalid Rehmani also said he will look into Meer’s situation. “He wasn’t doing too well financially, I knew that, but now we’ll see what we can do,” said Rehmani.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2016.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.