Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, JJ Rojer upstage Bryan brothers in Madrid Open
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi will now face his old partner Rohan Bopanna in the quarterfinal. – File photo by AFP
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and his Dutch partner Jean-Julien Rojer staged a stunning comeback to beat top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan in the Madrid Open pre-quarterfinals late Thursday.
Qureshi will now come face-to-face with his former doubles partner Rohan Bopanna of India, who, along with compatriot Mahesh Bhupati beat Santiago Gonzalez and Christopher Kas in their second-round match, also played on the same day.
At one set down and on the verge of an exit, the Pak-Dutch pair saved five match points in the second set to take the match in to a tie-break.
The Bryans, the world’s most successful men’s doubles team, won the first set 6-4. In the second set, world number 17 Qureshi-Rojer were able to hold their nerve and clinch it with the same score (6-4).
The tie-break decider was no less nervy for both teams, as it swayed on service games until Qureshi and Rojer grabbed a rare opportunity offered by the top seeds to take the match at 18-16.
The win comes on the back of a successful outing at the Estoril Open in Portugal earlier this month, when Qureshi and Rojer won their first title together.
Pakistan’s most successful tennis player will now face his long-time Indian doubles partner Bopanna in the last-four tie for the first time since the two parted ways late last year.
Bopanna has paired up with compatriot Bhupati, as he aims to qualify for the London Olympic Games.
Qureshi, himself, faces a stiff challenge in becoming Pakistan’s first tennis representative at the Games as he is currently ranked 14th in the ATP doubles rankings and will have to attain a ranking of number 10 or under in the next month-and-a-half.
Result
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi[PAK]/Jean-Julien Rojer[NED] beat Bob Bryan[US]/Mike Bryan[US] (4-6, 6-4, 18-16)
Aisam lost to the indian duo 7-6, 7-6 …First to report
congratulation……..
many congratulations !!
Mashallah… this is fabuous news indeed. We love you Aisam! B&B are the best team, beating them sets your standards high! Good on ya mate!
keep marching forward!!
Fantastic – go for it all the way
i wish Aisam manage to get into Olympics, he is true statesman and an example to follow for rest of Youth in the country
Congratulations and best wishes to the pair. Both of them have shown their true talent. It is a great feeling to see them playing at their best.
Just one correction: Aisam and JJR did not face any matchpoints in the 2nd set as they beat Bryans 6-4. In the final set they faced almost the same number of matchpoints as the Bryans before beating them 18-16. I think that the third set marathon establishes Aisam ul Haq and Jean-Julien Rojer as a perfect pair and among the best in the world.
Thanks for prompt scoop. Dawn was the first with this truly stunning news. If the pair keep going like they did in Estoril then Aisam and Aqeel could qualify for Olympics. With the present form of Aisam & J-J Rojer they could do it. I predict that they will beat Bopanna & Bhupathi in the QF tomorrow. They will almost certainly reach the Finals if they beat
B & B tomorrow. Please keep your great coverage of tennis. Thanks.
fantabolous job!
Amazing Aisam & Jean-Julien! Congratulations.