Davis Cup: Pakistan on level terms with Chinese Taipei

Aqeel won 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4, while Samir Iftikhar lost his match 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 on day one.

KARACHI: A straight-set defeat to Pakistan’s Samir Iftikhar saw Pakistan draw level with Chinese Taipei in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group II tie, after Aqeel Khan had given Pakistan the lead with his crucial 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 win over Jui-Chen Hung in Izmir, Turkey on Friday.

Pakistan’s most seasoned player Aqeel faced tough competition from the Chinese Taipei number two, who managed to win the first set 7-5, in the first match of the day.

However, Aqeel bounced back and won the next three sets 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 to take the match 3-1 and give Pakistan a 1-0 lead.

In Pakistan’s second match, Iftikhar did not enjoy a fruitful outing and was no match for the Chinese Taipei number one, who comfortably overpowered his opponent 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 to level the tie 1-1.

Pakistan are playing their home tie on a neutral venue in Turkey. A win will ensure Pakistan’s place in Group I of the zone, where they last participated in 2006, before being relegated to Group II. Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei were relegated from Group I to Group II last year.

Coach Hamedul Haq, who is in Izmir with the team, termed the first day as a success and laid emphasis on Aqeel and Aisamul Haq Qureshi’s doubles match, which would decide the tie.

“Our strategy really worked on day one so we are happy,” Hamed told The Express Tribune. “Aqeel performed brilliantly in the opening match; in fact he played his best tennis here. As for Wang, we knew taking him down would be a tough task and hence this result was expected. Aisam and Aqeel have hardly lost any matches in doubles at Davis Cup, so here we have an edge over our opponents.”

India level with Czechs

A shock straight sets victory by the unfancied Somdev Devvarman over Jiri Vesley saw hosts India draw level with the Czech Republic on the opening day of their Davis Cup play-off.

Devvarman, ranked 164, thrived in the sweltering heat and humidity at the RK Khanna Stadium in New Delhi as he notched up a 7-6, 6-4 6-3 win against the world number 40 in the second singles match to draw level after Lukas Rosol had defeated India’s number one player Yuki Bhambri 6-2 6-1 7-5 in the opening rubber.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th,  2015.

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