Hat-trick of losses ends Pakistan’s campaign

Tennis team finishes sixth at U16 Davis Cup after defeat against Vietnam.

KARACHI: After opening their campaign with an impressive win, Pakistan suffered their third successive defeat at the U16 Davis Cup with Vietnam crushing them 2-0 and snatching away fifth place in the Asia-Oceania Zone prequalifiers in Kuching, Malaysia.

Pakistan, who finished sixth, had earlier lost to Saudi Arabia to lose a chance to qualify for the next round of the qualifiers.

The team, which suffered majorly after the deportation of their top U16 player Mudassir Murtaza, got off to a losing start against Vietnam when Abdaal Haider lost to Hoanf Bao 6-2, 6-4. Muzammil Murtaza then lost to Trinh Linh Giang 6-2, 6-1 as Pakistan’s run in the tournament ended.

Meanwhile, Singapore defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1 in the semi-final and Yemen prevailed over Kazakhstan 2-0 in the other last-four encounter.

By booking a place in the final, Yemen and Singapore qualified for the next round of qualifiers that begin on April 22.

The U14 team’s next assignment is to feature at the World Juniors Tennis Tournament qualifiers that start on April 8.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2013.