Aisam, Bopanna in Valencia quarters

Aisam and Bopanna earned a tough win against the South-American duo to reach the quarters.

VALENCIA: Pakistan tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna of India defeated Pablo Cuevas from Uruguay and his doubles partner Juan Monaco of Argentina in the opening round of the Valencia Open.

Aisam and Bopanna overpowered their opponents 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 14-12 despite being six match points down during the match, to power into the quarter-finals. The Indo-Pak Express will now face Spanish pair comprising Marc Lopez and David Marrero, who had defeated Marcel Granollers and Ivan Navarro.

Aisam and Bopanna broke sweat in the opening set as two double-faults and break point saw them in a tense tie-break, which they eventually won. They went on to lose the second set, but big serves by the sub-continental pair in the super tie-break helped to seal their victory in one hour and 35 minutes.

Surprise exits

Meanwhile, defending champion Andy Murray made a surprise early exit from the men’s singles along with world number seven Fernando Verdasco and ATP finals hopeful Mikhail Youzhny. Murray fell 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to Monaco in the second round, while Youzhny pulled out at the start of the day with a back problem.

The Russian was due to play Cuevas in his opening match, but had to give his place over to Albert Ramos-Vinolas who lost 6-3, 6-4. Verdasco was crushed 6-1, 6-3 by Gilles Simon.

Youzhny and Verdasco’s exits damaged their chances of making the ATP finals later this month, as they fought for the three remaining berths in London.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2010.