Aisam-ul-Haq Begins North American Tennis Odyssey in Fine Fashion

By Parvez Fatteh, Founder of http://sportingummah.com, sports@muslimobserver.com

Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, left, with partner India’s Rohan Bopanna. The pairing have been sporting peace slogans on their tracksuit tops. Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/Reuters

Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and his Indian partner Rohan Bopanna began a series of 6 North American doubles tennis tournaments in Los Angeles with an impressive run. The pair fought all the way to the semifinals before losing to the eventual champions, American brothers Mike and Bob Bryan, 6-2, 6-4 at the Farmer’s Classic ATP championship in Los Angeles. Qureshi and Bopanna earned 90 ranking points each and split $9,650 in prize money. This was a good performance for the rising doubles force, but it is just the beginning of this summer’s activities for the two, as it is but the first of 6 doubles tournaments in a row for Qureshi and Bopanna, all in North America.

The duo’s next stop will be the ATP Washington Championship in Washington DC beginning on August 2nd. That will be followed by a trip to Canada to participate in the Rogers Cup, beginning on August 9th in Toronto. The pair then returns to the U.S. to play the ATP Masters in Cincinnati, Ohio beginning on August 16th. The grueling schedule continues with the the New Haven ATP Championship in New Haven, Connecticut, starting on August 23rd. And last, and definitely not least, Qureshi and Bopanna will see their next Grand Slam tournament action at the US Open in New York City beginning on August 30th.

Qureshi, who is under the coaching of American Robert Davis, currently sits at number 39 in the ATP Men’s Doubles rankings. His goal is to break into the top 20 by the end of the year. After his big North American adventure, Qureshi will return to Pakistan for a two week break before preparing for the Asian Circuit. He will represent the Pakistan team in the Commonwealth Games in India in October. Then come the Asian Games in China in November.

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