Pakistan go into Davis Cup campaign with mental edge

The hosts had beaten Kuwait 5-0 in their 1989 meet-up in the tournament

KARACHI: Pakistan head into their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II campaign against Kuwait at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association Complex in Colombo on Friday, with the hosts boasting a 5-0 win against their opponents in 1989, the only time the two sides have met in the tournament.

Drawing strength from the fact, the country’s top player Aqeel Khan believes that the team can decide the contest against Kuwait within the first two days of the three-day event.

"We'll definitely try to decide the tie by Saturday," Aqeel told The Express Tribune from Colombo. "Kuwait have a good team, but they only have one experienced player while the other three are new. So it’s going to be an interesting clash.

“The idea is to win our singles rubber on the first day and decide the tie on our crucial doubles rubber the following day. It’s our home tie, so we'll do our best to win here.”

The Karachi-based tennis player will be up against Kuwait's top seed Muhammad Ghareeb, while ATP veteran Aisamul Haq Qureshi will take on 20-year-old Naser alObaidly in the singles rubber on Friday. The duo will also play in the doubles rubber against Dawood Sayed Hashim and Hassan alMousa on Saturday.

Aqeel also expressed his concerns regarding the weather in Colombo. “It’s hot and humid here, so it’s also going to be a test of temperament and stamina," he said.

The team is also featuring Davis Cup debutants Abid Ali Akbar and Ahmed Chaudhry.

According to Aqeel, if Pakistan manage to take the lead in the tie on day two, the team may field Abid and Ahmed against Kuwait on the last day of the event in the reverse singles.

The Pakistan Tennis Federation is holding the event at a neutral venue, as the International Tennis Federation has barred holding any ties in the country due to security concerns.

In other Asia-Oceania Group II fixtures on Friday, Sri Lanka are playing their first round away tie against the Philippines in Pasig, while Chinese Taipei and Lebanon will also kick off their campaign in Kaohsiung City.

Murray opens Britain's tie with US

Andy Murray was on Thursday drawn to face Donald Young in Friday's opening rubber of the Davis Cup World Group first-round tie between Great Britain and the US.

The world number five will tackle world number 47 Young in the first match of the tie at Glasgow's Emirates Arena, where the 27-year-old Scot can expect boisterous support.

The US’ leading player, world number 20 John Isner, then tackles James Ward, before top-ranked doubles pairing Bob and Mike Bryan challenge Murray's brother Jamie and Dominic Inglot in Saturday's doubles.

In the penultimate singles match on Sunday, Andy Murray faces big-serving Isner before the tie closes with a showdown between Ward, the world number 111, and Young.

 

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