Aisam, Rojer upstage Bryan brothers
In semi-finals Aisam’s will face former partner, Rohan Bopanna; friendship turns into rivalry today.
It seems Aisam is determined to make his Olympics dream come true as him and doubles partner Jean-Julien Rojer stunned top-seeds and favourites Bob and Mike Bryan 4-6, 6-4, 18-16 in the second round of the Madrid Open.
However, between the pair and a place in the semi-finals stands Aisam’s former partner, Rohan Bopanna who has paired up with Mahesh Bhupathi as friendship turns into rivalry today.
The blue clay might have incurred the wrath of many taking part but for Aisam, whose ranking dropped from eighth to 14th before the Estoril Open triumph on Sunday took it up to 13th, it was revenge in style against the Bryan brothers who beat him and Bopanna in the 2010 US Open final.
Aisam and Rojer saved five match-points against their opponents, ensuring the one-hour-32-minute match swayed in both directions before the Bryans, the most successful doubles team in the sport, had their fate sealed by the rejuvenated pair who has now won 11 of their 20 matches this year.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2012.