Aisam stuns French number one

[BATMAN]

Aisam stuns French number one at Halle
Agence France Presse
http://www.thepost.com.pk/SportsNewsT.aspx?dtlid=102141&catid=5

HALLE (Germany): Seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet became the biggest first-round casualty at the ATP tournament in Halle on Tuesday when he was shocked by Pakistani qualifier Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi.

The 27-year-old from Lahore shocked sixth-seed Gasquet in straight sets, knocking out the 20-year-old who is ranked 11th in the world, 293 places higher than Qureshi.

Qureshi was delighted to take out a seeded player in straight sets and after winning the first set on a tie-breaker, he put in a commanding display to take the second 6-4 as the Frenchman struggled to modify his game on grass. “It’s not about winning my first-round match, it’s about beating a player ranked just outside the top 10,” said Qureshi, who had the advantage of three qualify games over the weekend to get used to playing on grass. “The hard work for the last 12 years is paying off, I learned a lot last year from some of the mistakes I made and I just kept telling myself I could do it. “I went out with the clear plan of moving him around and it paid off.

“I had tie-breakers in both sets of my last two qualifying games over the weekend, so when it got to 6-6 in the first-set tie-breaker, I knew I had a good chance. “Having normally played at Queen’s and in Nottingham, I only decided to switch to Halle last year and the move has paid off in only my second appearance.

“I really enjoyed it last year, but I went out in the first round, but I am hoping to stay a lot longer this year.”

Qureshi will play the winner of Tuesday’s match between German number one Philipp Kohlschreiber and Dutch qualifier Raemon Sluiter. His beaten opponent, Gasquet, looked stunned by the defeat, but said his Pakistani opponent deserved the win. “I don’t really know what went wrong,” said the French number one. “He seemed much happier on grass having played the qualifiers at the weekend, he really played well and served well.

“I got just one break-point, while he got several. “I don’t feel like I played badly, but I am very disappointed to go out of the first round, of course.”

In the day’s other games, Top-seed Nikolay Davydenko made it safely into the second round despite suffering an eye injury late in his win over Austrian Jurgen Melzer.

After world number one Roger Federer withdrew from Halle on Monday morning suffering from fatigue and a groin strain after reaching the Roland Garros final on Sunday, Davydenko is now favourite to pick up the winner’s cheque of 96,000 euros.

But the 26-year-old, ranked third in the world, was hit just below the eye and needed attention from the doctor just before he won the final game to seal his 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 6-2 victory over the Austrian, ranked 28 places below him. Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, ranked 53rd in the world, eased into the second round with a 6-3, 7-6 (11/9) win over South African qualifier Wesley Moodie. Santoro has a tough second-round assignment, against fourth-seeded Tomas Berdych from the Czech Republic. German qualifier Simon Stadler beat wild-card compatriot Mischa Zverev in straight-sets 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) and will face seventh-seeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the second round. Federer’s eleventh-hour replacement Romanian Andrei Pavel made it into the second round after beating Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) and will face Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen in the second-round.

 

[BATMAN]

Aisam lost today to German number one Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-4 and 6-3.
I wonder if he was bit lucky with his ties than he might had a chance to face Roger Fedrer in his next match.

 

[BATMAN]

Aisam qualifies for Wimbledon
http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11315&Itemid=40
LAHORE, June 21 (APP): Pakistan’s top tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi on Thursday created history by becoming the only Pakistani to enter Wimbledon through the qualifying rounds of the professional tennis.

Aisam hit the limelight after winning third and final qualifying round against Canadian No. 1 Frank Dancevic in a four set thriller lasting for 2 hours and 50 minutes with a score line of 4-6, 7-6 (11/9), 6-2, 7-6 (7/4).

The Canadian has been playing very well for the last three years and broke into top 100 in the world. He has been playing Wimbledon main draw also regularly.Frank was the 4th seed of the Wimbledon Qualifying draw and a favourite to qualify today but Pakistan star had other plans and managed to defeat him, said a facsimile message made available to APP here.

Right in the beginning of the first set Frank broke Aisam’s serve and continued to maintain his upper hand till he took the set.

Aisam did not feel dejected at all and increased his intensity in the second set. He got two break points on Frank’s first service game but did not succeed to convert the same. Eventually the set went into tie break as both were tied at 6-6. In the tie break again it was real tooth and nail competition and at 8-8 Frank was able to break Aisam’s serve to take a 9-8 lead which provided him a set point.

But Aisam struck back like lightening and snatched next two points from Frank to take a 10-9 lead. Then he made no mistake to take the tie break with an 11-9 score.

Having equalled the match with a one set all, Aisam really got pumped up and broke Frank’s serve twice to take a 4-0 lead and went on to win the third set.

By now two hours had passed and the players were entering into a zone where the fitness and stamina is tested to the limit.

In the fourth set the fit like fiddle Frank thought to have an edge over the Asian boy but that was not to happen.

Aisam was still in his full form and fit to compete with him at the highest level.

By and by the set went on to 6-6, as neither of them was ready to give in. But in the tie break Aisam was too good and unstoppable as he went on to take 4-0 lead and eventually took the set with a score of 7-6 in the tie break.

“I am very happy that I have done it. It is all due to the prayers of my parents, my family and all the tennis loving people of Pakistan”,said Aisam after the match.

“I request all Pakistanis to keep praying that I may continue to earn laurels for Pakistan”,he added.

In the good old days the players were entered in the Wimbledon by invitation or country nomination.Aisam has previously played in the doubles event of the Wimbledon twice.

Aisam is also perhaps the only player to participate in both the singles and doubles events of the Wimbledon which is a great moment for Pakistan tennis.

 

[BATMAN]

All those who live in UK should not miss his Wimbledon match.
He actually deserved wild card entry many years back but now he made it through qualifying rounds.

 

[Keysersoze]

He got through to the second round. won in three sets

 

[Always Neutral]

He seems to quite an athletic player. I watched the match and was very suprised to learn he was Pakistani. Infact BBC 2 gave quite a lot of publicity to his win. Good for Pakistan. Hope Tim Henman also continues the good show.

Regards

 

[Neo]

Pakistan's Qureshi fulfils a dream at Wimbledon​

By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - After once hitting the headlines for playing doubles with an Israeli, Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi made his solo mark at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

Qureshi, the first Pakistani to play in the Wimbledon men's singles in 31 years, beat Briton Lee Childs 6-3 6-4 7-6 in the first round. Next up for Qureshi will be the Russian former number one Marat Safin.

Qureshi, mobbed afterwards by Asian fans clamouring for photos and autographs, told Reuters: "From the first point I decided to be aggressive. The main thing I was worried about was how to handle the pressure at Wimbledon."

Haroon Rahim was the last Pakistani to reach the second round here, in 1975 and 1976.

He may be ranked only 279 in the world but Qureshi's confidence was high when he upset Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the Halle grasscourt tournament earlier this month and then fought through Wimbledon's qualifying rounds.

"I was very loose and relaxed on court today," he said. "I don't think Lee expected me to come out today so pumped up and fired up."

The 27-year-old from Lahore, whose mother was a national tennis champion, said "I am living my dream. Ever since I started playing, I wanted to play Wimbledon."

"My mum took me to the tennis courts one day when I was 14. That is when I started playing tennis."

From January 1 this year he has been writing every day in his diary: "I am going to qualify for Wimbledon."

Qureshi had failed three times before in his bid to get into the main draw but "I always believed I could play with the big boys. Qualifying for Wimbledon has changed my life."

So did his doubles partnership with Israel's Amir Hadad, which in 2003 won them a humanitarian award from the organisers of men's tennis.

"During a summer when fear and hatred garnered much of the headlines, Amir and Aisam-ul-Haq provided much needed relief with their simple message about tolerance through tennis," former ATP chief Mark Miles said.

At Wimbledon, Hadad and Qureshi initially thought little of their decision to team up for the first time to play doubles.

But set against the backdrop of Jewish-Islamic tensions in the Middle East, their partnership -- they reached the third round at Wimbledon and also played at the U.S. Open -- proved inspirational.

"I thought I was doing the right thing," Qureshi said.

"If I believe and think I can do well with a Jewish player again, whoever that is, I will definitely play with him."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070626/tts-uk-tennis-wimbledon-qureshi-intervie-5152039.html

 

[Neo]

Aisam-ul-Haq Quraishi ​

http://www.hinduonnet.com/tss/tss2711/images/20040313003205801.jpg

 

[BATMAN]

Thanks gentlemen,
He lost today to Marat Safin (former world No.1). He put up a wonderful fight though.

Safin Sinks Qualifier Qureshi
Thursday, 28 June, 2007
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/match_reports/2007-06-28/200706271182945129484.html

Marat Safin may have reached the third round with a convincing win over qualifier Aisam Qureshi but he will have to improve his serving and concentration if he plans to make it into the second week.

The Russian No. 26 seed did just enough to dispose of his 27-year-old opponent 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), but appeared to approach the match with a somewhat cavalier attitude.

Admittedly, he was playing a man ranked 255 places below him and making his Grand Slam debut. Safin, on the other hand, has won the US and Australian Open titles and reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2001 before losing to eventual champion Goran Ivanisevic.

On paper, therefore, he had little reason to be scared. But Qureshi was on good form, riding high on a win against Richard Gasquet in Halle. And if Qureshi, the fourth Pakistani man to play at Wimbledon in the Open Era and the second to reach the second round after Haroon Rahim, was nervous, he did a good job of hiding it.

He served out the opening game with an ace and matched Safin shot for shot until 3-3 when he netted two backhand volleys and handed the Russian the first break of the match.

Undeterred, Qureshi began mixing up the game, a deft drop shot here and power-play there. It worked to confuse the world No. 24 who began blasting balls long and missing first serves.

Safin very soon had four consecutive break points against him but hit some dazzling drives. This, and Qureshi’s big match inexperience, allowed the Russian to hold his serve and take the first set 6-4.

Despite this, Safin’s brilliance fluctuated and at times it was as though he had left his concentration in the locker room. However, it was the qualifier’s head that dropped in the second set, which was snatched away from him in a flash, and when the Russian took the match on a third set tiebreak, Qureshi’s Wimbledon dream was over.

Safin, however, will have his work cut out in the next round – he faces four-times Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer.

Written by Helen Gilbert

 

[BATMAN]

VEry impressive match summary
http://img405.imageshack.us/my.php?image=matchsummarysu6.png
If he would have won today's match than his next round tie was Roger Fedrer

 

[Janbaz]

Well it is a big step forward and in the future he will fare much better!

 

[BATMAN]

It is very unfair that he has been denied of reputable tournaments in past due to his ranking.
His ranking should be atleast some where in top 50.
http://img441.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b04qureshi208reutersekete6.jpg
http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=b02qureshi210prosportthqb3.jpg
http://img404.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bq4qureshiaectlcu8.jpg

 

[BATMAN]

I was following his match he had many break points but sad he couldn't convert any of those.
He started with a very impressive ace.

Aisam's interview after the match.
http://www.wimbledon.org/en_GB/news/interviews/2007-06-28/200706281183040725843.html

 

[Neo]

Well it is a big step forward and in the future he will fare much better!

Exactly!
Aisam, we're proud of you mate!
Thanks!

 

[Always Neutral]

It is very unfair that he has been denied of reputable tournaments in past due to his ranking. His ranking should be atleast some where in top 50

Dear Batman,

On a lighter side I hope you are not going to attribute this to a British Conspiracy or a delibrate attempt by Blair to get even with Pakistan over Sir Salman.

Lets hope and wish Asim does well in the next round as it will be good for tennis in Asia.

Regards