Davis Cup: Pakistan stumble in doubles on day two

Aqeel, Akbar lose out to Indonesian opponents in five-setter.

KARACHI: Pakistan faltered on the second day of their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group II semi-final against Indonesia as Aqeel Khan and Abid Ali Akbar lost the doubles match to Christopher Rungkat and Sunn-Wahyu Trijati 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6 at the Gelora Bung Karno Tennis Stadium, Jakarta.

Pakistan are without veteran Aisamul Haq Qureshi, who is recuperating after sustaining a knee injury and is usually a regular feature in the country’s doubles matches in Davis Cup.

Aisam had picked up the injury last month before Wimbledon but still played through the pain at the All England Club before crashing out of the men’s doubles tournament in the quarter-finals.

Despite the doubles rubber defeat, Pakistan lead 2-1 at the Davis Cup and on day three, they will need to claim at least one reverse singles rubber in order to win the tie.

Aqeel and Samir Iftikhar had won their respective singles rubbers on the opening day to help Pakistan take the 2-0 lead.

“We will have a hard time on Thursday for sure,” Aqeel told The Express Tribune. “The tie is a tough one and we can’t relax until we play out the last match.”

In Thursday’s fixtures, Aqeel will play Davis Agung Susanto while Samir will take on Aditiya Hari Susangko.

If Pakistan win the tie against Indonesia, they will face the winner of the semi-final between the Philippines and Chinese Taipei in Group II’s final round.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th,  2015.

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