Davis Cup victory: Thailand suffer Aqeel-ing blow

Pakistan claim 3-2 win in first tie hosted at home in 12 years

KARACHI: Pakistan’s veteran tennis star Aqeel Khan showed just why he is considered one of the best players in the country as he helped Pakistan seal the win at the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II final.

Aqeel defeated Thailand's Kittiphong Wachiramanowong 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-2 in a marathon last reverse singles rubber that went on for more than three hours at the Pakistan Sports Board Complex in Islamabad on Sunday.

Aqeel's crucial win helped Pakistan win the tie, which was 2-2 after the fourth rubber.

The country’s most seasoned player had huge responsibility on his shoulders and was taking on a much younger opponent in Wachiramanowong in the last match of the tie.

Aqeel began the rubber with confidence and seemed to be romping towards a victory — taking the first two sets 6-4, 6-3 — but age almost seemed to catch up to him in the next two sets as Wachiranmanowong went on to level the match with 6-3, 6-2 wins in the next two sets for Thailand.

The fifth set was to be a battle of nerves and Aqeel showed just how prized experience is as he ran into a 4-0 lead that left his visiting opponent with little hope. The clinching set was won 6-2, with Aqeel claiming 15 aces and 142 points won in the game.

“I can't believe it, I wouldn't want to play this five-setter again," a delighted but spent Aqeel told The Express Tribune after winning the match. "It was tough, it was demanding and the pressure was immense but I think I got through because of the crowd, because of my teammates.”

Aqeel revealed he didn’t want the tie to go the distance, especially since Pakistan won both rubbers on day one. “I was telling Aisam that he should win his rubber; I was on the court the whole time praying for it, because obviously we didn't want the situation to get desperate, but I guess it was written for me to win this tie for Pakistan. We are all ecstatic. And I have to give it to Aisam for playing such a long match right before mine. The Davis Cup is something else. It’s not just tennis, it’s what we are doing for our country more than for ourselves, and the emotion is completely different."

Aqeel revealed he went for broke in the final set, knowing that he needed to change something to stop Wachiramanowong’s onslaught.

"I was leading by two sets and then suddenly it was two all. So of course it was a lot of pressure, but the point is I wasn't getting any free points,” he said. “Everyone was thinking that I was tired, but I wasn't. During that break I just told myself that I need to change my body language, I need to be more aggressive, and I think that worked. I just want to thank everyone who stuck by us, and worked with us during this tie.”

Aisam’s defeat had set cat among pigeons

Pakistan were 2-1 up at the end of day two but Aisamul Haq Qureshi had the tough task to begin the day, taking on Thailand's top-seed Wishaya Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul as the fourth rubber of the tie also went on for five sets. Aisam lost the first two sets to Trongcharoenchaikul 7-5, 7-6, but took the next two sets to make it 2-2.

Just like Aqeel though, Trongcharoenchaikul kept his nerves to deny his opponent a memorable comeback in a marathon match that lasted for more than four hours.