Aisam-Rojer’s woes continue

Duo crashes out of Nice Open in last-eight.

Aisamul Haq Qureshi and his Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer crashed out of the doubles event at the Nice Open 2013, going down in the quarter-final to local duo of Nicholas Mahut and Edouar Roger-Vasselin 3-6, 7-5, 10-3 in France, yesterday.

Aisam and Rojer, the top seeds in the tournament, had earlier defeated James Cerretani and Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-1 but failed to continue the momentum.

Aisam and Rojer now head to the French Open with their form dipping since their win in Miami last month. The pair lost in Rome and Madrid before their defeat in Paris.

Injured Murray confirms French Open withdrawal

Meanwhile, Andy Murray will miss the French Open with the back injury that flared up at the Rome Masters, confirmed the world number two in a statement.

After meeting with medical specialists Murray has decided to skip the second Grand Slam of the year at Roland Garros to ensure he is fully fit for Wimbledon.



“It’s a really tough decision and I love playing in Paris, but, after seeking medical advice, I am not fit to compete,” the US Open and Olympic champion explained in a statement to Britain’s Press Association.

“After consultation with his team and medical specialists, Andy has reluctantly withdrawn from the French Open and will instead focus on preparation for the grasscourt season,” added the statement.

Murray had raised the possibility of his absence from the French Open after retiring with the back problem in his second-round match against Spain’s Marcel Granollers at the Rome Masters last week.

“I’d be very surprised if I was playing in Paris,” said a subdued Murray then.

This will be the first Grand Slam he will miss since Wimbledon in 2007. The injury was the same one which required him to take a pain-killing injection in order to play at Roland Garros last year where he reached the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, world number seven Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina also pulled out of next week’s French Open after failing to recover from a virus, reported the Argentine media yesterday.

Bernard Tomic will, however, feature in the Grand Slam despite his off-court troubles only to keep some momentum going for the grasscourt season ahead, said Tennis Australia’s (TA) Todd Woodbridge yesterday.

Tomic’s father John faced a charge of causing criminal injury in a Madrid court earlier this month after allegedly assaulting his son’s hitting partner Thomas Drouet.

“He needs to keep playing coming into the grasscourt season — that’s where he’s played some great tennis before,” said Woodbridge, TA’s Professional Tennis Manager. “If you do not get that little bit of match play, it’s hard to get the momentum going.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2013.