South Korea take lead against Pakistan

Hosts up 2-0 as Aisam, Aqeel lose singles matches.

LAHORE:

South Korea roared into a commanding 2-0 lead on the first day of their Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group II semi-final tie against Pakistan as both Aqeel Khan and Aisamul Haq Qureshi lost their singles matches.

Pakistan were dominated from the start as Kyu-Tae Im got the hosts off to the perfect start by defeating the country’s number one Aqeel 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in straight sets. In the second match, Yong-Kyu Lim outplayed Aisam, who put up a fight before losing 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Today’s doubles match will see Aqeel and Aisam pair up to face Young-Jun Kim and Lim. A win for South Korea will see them progress to the final round, as the team seeks promotion to Group I next year. On the other hand, the Pakistani camp will be on their toes, facing a battle to keep the contest alive.

According to the revised policy, if a tie is decided after the fourth match - which is possible if a team holds a 3-1 lead - that lasts atleast four sets, the fifth match will not be played unless both teams agree otherwise.

South Korea have played in the World Group in 1981, 1987 and 2008, but have never progressed past the first round.

On the other hand, Pakistan, who are struggling to book a place in the final round, saw their best Davis Cup performance in 2005, when they reached the World Group play-offs. They were also one step away from qualifying for the World Group when they lost the 1984 Eastern Zone final to Japan.

Both countries have met on six previous occasions, with South Korea holding the edge over Pakistan, having won four. Pakistan, however, won the most recent tie in 2003, when Aqeel was involved in the longest-ever Davis Cup tiebreak, which lasted 36 points.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2011.