KARACHI: Philippines took a 2-0 lead against Pakistan after Aqeel Khan and Yasir Khan lost their opening singles on the first day of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group II second-round tie in Manila.
Pakistan number one Aqeel went down to Johnny Arcilla 6-2, 6-2, 6-3, while Yasir succumbed to Treat Huey 6-1, 6-0, 6-3. Pakistan now contest the crucial must-win doubles match in order to stay alive in the tie and Aqeel said playing without Aisamul Haq Qureshi will be tough.
“There’s a lot of pressure on us now,” Aqeel told The Express Tribune.
“I’m used to playing with Aisam so it’s going to be very different. I’m going to play without him after 12 years. Jalil Khan is my brother and we know each other’s game well but I don’t expect the same result with him.”
Meanwhile, according to Yasir, playing on clay courts is the biggest challenge for Pakistan players who are used to grass.
“There’s a lot of pressure and I can’t tell how much I regret losing the match to Huey,” said Yasir. “We don’t have a lot of experience since Aisam and Aqeel usually play the Davis Cup matches so I do feel a little lost when I’m playing.”
Australia lead S Korea 2-0
Meanwhile, Bernard Tomic and Matthew Ebden gave Australia a 2-0 lead over South Korea with wins in the opening singles of the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group i second-round tie in Brisbane.
Tomic, 19, was down an early break before reeling off a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 win over unranked Cho Min-Hyeok. Ebden built on the opening rubber success when he sealed a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Jeong Suk-Young, ranked 730th.
Australia, who have not been in the elite 16-team World Group since 2007, will advance to the playoffs in September with victory in today’s doubles.
In the World Group quarter-final meeting, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga got France off to a winning start against the US. Tsonga beat Ryan Harrison 7-5, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.
In the Davis Cup/Oceania Group I relegation play-off in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China took a 1-0 lead against Taiwan. (With additional input from AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2012.
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Our cricketers get so much flak if they play some league cricket instead representing their country. And here is Aisam sitting at home rather than at least turning up for Davis Cup against Philippines. It would have been better had Aisam at least turned up for his country even though he could also have lost all his singles matches.