Both of us were talking to each other throughout the 2013 season, says Qureshi.
Rohan Bopanna
CHENNAI: As legendary American tennis coach Nick Bollettieri once said playing double in tennis is similar to a marriage. The chemistry is key for success and clash of egos could only trigger ugly breakups.
The one enviable quality that is striking in the Indo-Pak Express, as Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi proudly named their partnership, is their mutual respect.
While Bopanna had no qualms in admitting the fact that it was him who approached Aisam for a reunion after a two-year gap, the Pakistan star — in a separate interview —was humble enough to say that it was a mutual decision.
“Both of us were talking to each other throughout the 2013 season,” said Qureshi. Bopanna and Qureshi parted ways in 2011 when the Indian decided to join hands with compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi in a bid to prepare for the 2012 London Olympics. “I respected his decision and we had no issues. Never had we said that we would not play again,” added Qureshi.
Apart from their runners-up finish at the 2010 US Open, the Indian’s successful partnership with the Pakistani garnered a lot of headlines and they even won the prestigious ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian award for their ‘Stop War, Start Tennis’ campaign.
It’s been their dream to play an exhibition match at Wagah border, the only road crossing between the two neighbours. Qureshi said they have been working on their dream project even though they were with different partners. “We have been ambassadors of Peace and Sports which is a non-governmental organisation run by Prince Albert of Monaco. I hope it happens this year. We have been trying to get the green light from both the countries.
“It’s a sensitive area and ambassadors of both the countries have already conveyed our intention to the prime ministers. We are doing everything within our reach to get it done. It’s good for the sport as well for the friendship between both the countries,” Qureshi said.
Like his previous visits, Qureshi endured some anxious moments before receiving the Indian visa. “Each time, I had to get letters from ministry of sports, internal affairs, external affair and home department. It’s an arduous process. I have to thank Indian tennis federation vice-president Karti P. Chidambaram for his help,” said the 33-year-old Qureshi.
The duo had reached the 2010 US Open final and won the Paris Masters the next year before making the ATP World Tour finals debut in London. They had been on course for a slam success before they separated. Bopanna promises that they are committed to play a long ‘second innings’.
“Unlike last time, we have one common coach (Scott Davidoff). Our focus will be on big events such as Masters and Grand Slams. We have to be consistent throughout the year to make the cut for the London ATP Finals. A two-year gap is a lot of time in tennis and it’s like starting afresh, but we are excited. We are going to bring in new style to our partnership after having played with different players the last two years,” said Bopanna, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals this year with Eduard Roger Vasselin.
Israeli Sela all pumped up for Chennai Open
Israeli Sela all pumped up for Chennai Open
DC/ Hari Kishore M
Chennai: Dudi Sela is one of the players to look out for in the Chennai Open. The Israeli, known for his strength and versatility, has a mean one-handed backhand. Sela can’t wait to launch an assault on the title at South Asia’s lone ATP event, starting here next week.
Sela, ranked 73 in the world, has his plans fixed for the imminent season. “Finishing in the top 50 is my main goal for the season,” he said.
The Israeli could be a dark horse for the title here. He has been training in right earnest to get used to the conditions in Chennai. “The courts here are a little extra bouncy. The ball tends to spin and I’m preparing for it with rigorous practice punctuated by long rallies,” he said.
Another aspect Sela is focusing on is the weather conditions. “Chennai is warm and humid. It’s important to get used to the weather here,” he added.
The top player of Israel had experimented a bit at the start of the last season by switching racquets. “After going in for heavier racquets, I started playing powerful shots more often. It did not work well initially, but I got used to the racquet in the later stages of the year. I’m happy with the impact the new racquet had on my results,” he said.
In the seesaw season, Sela started at 90+, plummeted to 110 before mounting a stirring rally to reach 73. “I’m looking forward to playing good tennis in a strong field here. I hope to start well and carry forward the momentum to the Australian Open,” he added.
Nine Indians in Open qualifiers
Nine Indians in Open qualifiers
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI: Sergiy Stakhovsky who conquered Roger Federer in the second round of the 2013 Wimbledon ending his record 36 straight quarterfinal grand slam appearances is the top seed for the qualifiers of the Chennai Open.
The Ukranian will meet Alexander Kudryavtsev in the first round on Friday. The qualifier is a 32-player draw and it has as many as nine Indians —Ajai Selvaraj, J. Mohit Mayur, Sasi Kumar Mukund, Sumit Nagal (all wild cards), Sanam Singh, N. Sriram Balaji, Ramkumar Ramanathan, Vijay Sundar Prasanth, Saketh Myneni.
Four players at the end of three rounds will make it to the main draw. Chennai boy Mohit has a tough first round draw as he meets second seed Go Soeda on Friday.
Action today (starts from 10 am): Court 1: Go Soeda (Jpn) vs Mohit Mayur; Ramkumar Ramanathan vs Sumit Nagal (IND); Ajai Selvaraj (IND) vs Sanam Singh (IND); Rajeev Ram (USA) vs Lorenzo Giustino (ITA).
Court 2: Henri Laaksonen (SUI) vs Sriram Balaji (IND); Mikhail Elgin (RUS) vs Andrej Martin (SVK); Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) vs Alexander Kudryavtsev (RUS); Saketh Myneni (IND) vs Phillip Oswald (AUT).
Court 3: Mate Pavic (CRO) vs Alessandro Giannessi (ITA); Dusan Lajovic (SRB) vs Sasi Kumar Mukund (IND); Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs Hiroki Moriya (JPN); Vijay Sundar Prashanth (IND) vs Ze Zhang (CHN).
Court 4: Flavio Cipolla (ITA) vs Illya Marchenko (UKR); Norbert Gombos (SVK) vs Benjamin Balleret (MON); Frederik Nielsen (DEN) vs Marton Fucsovics (HUN); Yasutaka Uchiyama (JPN) vs Radu Albot (MDA).
( Source : dc )
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