Aisam, Rajeev defeat Paes, Groth in Newport

Pairing featuring Pakistani star prevails after three close sets

KARACHI: Aisamul Haq Qureshi and American Rajeev Ram defeated the pairing of India’s Leander Paes and Australia’s Sam Groth to reach the final of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, United States.

Aisam and Ram were outplayed in the opening set of the match, losing 6-4 before bouncing back with a 7-6 triumph in the second to level the tie.

The third set was just as tight as the two duos traded blows with neither ready to relent until Aisam and co finally got the elusive break, wrapping up the set 11-9 and the match two sets to one.

Earlier, 37-year-old Aisam and Ram had defeated Mexico’s Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela and Spain’s Adrian Menendez-Maceiras 6-1, 6-2 in the quarter-finals.

Aisam has bagged four titles this year already, including last month's Antalya Open with  Robert Lindstedt, and is gunning for a fifth one in the ongoing tournament.