Pakistani tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi opened up ahead of the Pakistan vs India Davis Cup encounter, saying that he feels motivated by the rise of his former doubles partner Rohan Bopanna.
Bopanna recently won the Australian Open 2024 doubles and became the oldest player in history to do so. He also rose to number 1 rankings in men’s doubles.
Qureshi paired with Bopanna in the Indo-Pak Express, where they not only broke into the top 10 but also reached the 2010 US Open final.
"Becoming world number one and winning the Australian Open is a massive achievement and in a way it motivates me as well and inspires a lot of people," 43-year-old Qureshi told reporters ahead of a first Davis Cup tie against India on home soil since 1964.
"I feel very proud of him, obviously I started my doubles career with him and we made a breakthrough together," he said, adding their "friendship will remain forever".
Bopanna is not a part of the Indian contingent as the 43-year-old retired from the Davis Cup in 2023.
"The Indian team just reaching Pakistan is already a win for me," Qureshi said. "I'm happy and proud to be a part of it — that tennis might play a role in mending the ties with India."
The last time the two sides met each other on a tennis court was back in 2014 in Kazakhstan, where India won 4-0.
On the other hand, the captain of the Indian team, Zeeshan Ali, stated that coming to Pakistan was an “emotional” moment for him as his father was part of the team that visited the country in 1964.
"The last time India played against Pakistan 60 years ago my father was on the team and he played three of the matches which he won," Ali said. "For me to be back here in Pakistan as captain of the Indian team is an emotional moment.
"If we can help in any way to spread good friendship and the game of tennis then we would have achieved our goal."
Complete draw of Pakistan-India Davis Cup tie
February 3
Singles
Aisam-ul-Haq vs Ramkumar Ramanathan
Aqeel Khan vs Sriram Balaji
February 4
Doubles
Barkatullah/Muzamil Murtaza vs Yuki Bhambri/Saketh Myneni
Singles
Aqeel Khan vs Ramkumar Ramanathan
Aisam-ul-Haq vs Sriram Balaji