ISLAMABAD: Young tennis sensation Huzaifa Abdul Rehman is determined to step into the slot of next superstar of tennis in Pakistan by taking over the reins of the game during the next decade.

“I’ve been training really hard since the time I began tennis at the age of four. Since then I never became complacent. Whether I am in Pakistan or abroad; whether it is off-season or I’m there to play in some tournament I never give up my training,” Huzaifa told APP on phone from Florida, US where he is undergoing training at the Next Generation Tennis Academy.

Like other sports, the tennis season across the world was suspended in March due to the coronavirus spread. But there was no break for the 18-year-old Huzaifa, who preferred to stay in Florida where several other talented youngsters like him are undergoing training while adhering to the safety measures.

“I’ve been here even before the eruption of this pandemic. Instead of rushing back to my country I preferred to stay here. I know as a pro you need to keep going and doing hard work even during such unfavourable times,” he reckoned.

Pakistan has produced some really good players in tennis with two of them —Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan — dominating the country’s tennis for the last 15 years. But with both the icons reaching the twilight of their careers, Huzaifa seemed determined to take charge.

“I grew up watching them [Aisam and Aqeel]. I respect them a lot. They’re great players. But one day every great player has to call it a day,” he said.

“I’d heard Aqeel stating in a TV programme some time back that he and Aisam won’t be able to feature in Davis Cup after two years or so. I also believe that it is the turn of some youngsters now. I along with other young guns will be there to occupy their slots,” he added.

The former Asian No. 2 in U-14 category along with Shoaib, another young talented player, had already got the opportunity to represent Pakistan in the Davis Cup tie against arch-rivals India in New Zealand in November 2019 after Aisam and Aqeel withdrew from the event, protesting against shifting of the matches to a neutral venue.

Though, the inexperienced Pakistan outfit could not win the tie, Huzaifa put up a valiant fight against Sumit Nagal, a seasoned Indian player. He went down 6-0, 6-2 in that match but not before showing his class.

“The guy [Huzaifa] I played came up with some really good shots. He played to his potential but has a long way to go,” Nagal had stated of Huzaifa, who punched above his weight in that fixture, resisting as much as possible by engaging the Indian in long rallies.

Nagal is the only Indian player, who took a set off Roger Federer in a first-round clash of the US Open in August last year.

Before impressing at Davis Cup in his maiden appearance, Huzaifa had already proved his worth at the national level by winning two back-to-back ITF World Junior Ranking Tennis Championships in Islamabad last year. He also emerged victorious in a number of other events.

Meanwhile, Travis Eckert, the Next Generation Tennis Academy director, lauded Huzaifa, observing that the youngster was brimming with talent.

“He [Huzaifa] already came to us as a great player from Pakistan. He’s been training here for the last four months. I’m really excited about his progress,” Eckert remarked while talking to APP over phone.

“We’re excited for the ITF tournaments to open up again. Hopefully, towards August he’s going to play ITF Men Circuit, which is one of the lower-tier pro events. That’s going to be his focus and I hope he’ll put up all his energies. Let’s see how far he can go,” Travis added.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2020