Pakistanis are now pinning their hopes on the unlikely sporting star to give the country something to cheer about amidst the cricket scandals and devastating floods. And having reached the US Open men’s and mixed doubles finals, Qureshi hopes to win both in tribute to the 21 million flood victims in his homeland.
“The only motivation I have for these two weeks is to get these titles for the people back home,” said Qureshi. “I’m trying to send some positive news back home with the floods and everything.”
Qureshi has been quick to praise Bopanna’s role in helping him try to win some glory for Pakistan’s flood-hit people. “I want to thank Rohan for helping me in doing this,” he said. “My partner has been great.”
Bopanna praised Qureshi for recovering from his mixed doubles semi-final on Tuesday to be at full strength to oust the South American duo and book a showdown with the Bryans.
“All credit to him. He had all his energy up,” said Bopanna. “I’m hoping I can help him take both titles back home and send some positive news to Pakistan. I’m really looking forward to the final against the Bryans. To be the best you have to beat the best.”
The Djokovic scare
Djokovic booked a berth opposite Swiss second-seed Roger Federer in tomorrow’s singles semi-finals by ousting French 17th seed Gael Monfils 7-6 (7/2), 6-1, 6-2 while Federer beat Swedish fifth-seed Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
The second and fifth seeds came out onto Arthur Ashe Stadium to face the same gale force winds that had disrupted the day’s earlier matches, but they produced a quality of play that belied the conditions.
Federer was expected to face his first serious test of the tournament against the man who beat him at the French Open, and it was Soderling who had the early chances.Three break points came and went in game two and another in game six, each time Federer finding a first serve when it mattered, and while both players were hitting well from the baseline it was the Swiss who was making the winners.
It was to the Swede’s credit that he recovered the first-set deficit immediately with a backhand arrowed down the line, but a third successive break followed when he let a 40-0 lead slip as Federer fired a forehand past him at the net.
That was enough for the world number two to take the second set, such was his dominance on serve, and a straight-sets win seemed inevitable as the third set began with neither man able to fashion a break point. Soderling’s attempt to close out the third went horribly wrong, however, with three successive forehand errors giving Federer the break straight back and the Swiss reeled off four the last four games to seal victory with successive aces after one hour and 56 minutes.
World number one Rafael Nadal is trying to complete a career Slam sweep by winning his first title on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts. Federer wants to reclaim the throne he lost last year when his five-year reign was ended.
No more tantrums
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki will play Vera Zvonareva in today’s semi-final after both battled their way through. Wozniacki defeated Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia 6-2, 7-5.
Zvonareva, a temperamental 26-year-old Russian who mastered her emotions this year to reach the Wimbledon final in July, defeated Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-3, 7-5.
After last year’s spectacular meltdown here, where Zvonareva underwent an emotional mess hurling her racquet across the court and eventually sobbing on court following a slip of six match points, the Russian is determined not to make the same mistake again. AGENCIES
Roger Federer
“I’ve practiced my serve a whole lot my entire career. If I can’t serve in the wind, I’ve got a problem. You can wake me up at two or four in the morning I can still hit serves.”
Novak Djokovic
“I have two days. I will try to use them the best I can to recover and get ready to play another match. Maybe I would like to face Federer, look for some revenge.”
Caroline Wozniacki
“Zvonareva made it to the final at Wimbledon and is now in the semi-finals here so she’s a great player and I’m going to go out there and do my best.”
Vera Zvonareva
“If you’re not happy about yourself, sometimes you need to break the racquet and move on. Doesn’t matter if it’s Caroline or someone else on the other side of the net.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2010.
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