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Philippines, 17 Mar 2026 |
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PAKISTAN KEEPS DAVIS CUP HOPES ALIVE WITH IMPRESSIVE DOUBLES VICTORY By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Sun, 06 Apr 2014  After having lost both singles on opening day to the Philippines, Pakistan kept its Davis Cup hopes alive by winning the crucial doubles in the Asia-Oceania Group II tie at the Philippine Colombian before a fairly good crowd on Saturday. Inspired by the presence of its world class doubles star Aisam Quereshi, No. 1 singles player Aqeel Khan lifted his game to beat an utterly listless Treat Huey and partner Ruben Gonzales in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 and send the tie into the deciding reverse singles on Sunday where Gonzales will face Aqeel Khan. Should Gonzales, who won his opening singles match in straight sets over Samir Ifthikar and has been playing sold tennis, prevail, then the final singles would be no-bearing. However, should Khan beat Gonzales then the tie will go to a deciding final singles match which would see Quereshi take on JP Tierro unless Philippine team captain Roland Krout decides to go with clay court specialist Johnny Arcilla who will be well-rested. An ace by Huey to hold serve at 2-2 gave no hint of his troubles in the middle of the set especially when, according to team captain Krout, ?at the start nothing was wrong. He woke up well, he ate well, he warned up well but sometime in the middle of the first set he said he suddenly lost his energy. No injury, his stomach was okay he suddenly felt bloated and then he felt weak.? After Gonzales hammered home an ace to make it 3-3, and Huey serving with new balls scrambled to hold serve and make it 4-4, Quereshi pulled out his first ace to lead 5-4 before Gonzales replied with his second ace and despite a double-fault held serve to make it 5-5. An ace by Aqeel Khan enabled Pakistan to go ahead 6-5 before Huey committed his second double fault to give Pakistan the opening set 7-5. Four superb volley winners all at the net by Gonzales enabled Huey to hold serve for a 2-2 count before the classy Quereshi serving with new balls thundered down back-to-back service aces although Gonzales and Hueu scrambled to hold serve and make it 3-3. The Philippines failed to capitalize on two double faults by Aqeel Khan who survived to edge Pakistan in front 4-3 before they broke Huey to kead 5-3 and Quereshi served out the ninth game to win the second set 6-3. Despite being down by two set to nothing Gonzales refused to give up and tried his best to fire up Huey with a third ace giving the Philippines the opening game of the third set. After Quereshi held serve Huey gave Filipino fans something to hope for when in a momentary flash of brilliance he ripped an ace and followed it up with another big serve to keep the Philippines in front 2-1. Kraut told us that at this point ?we were waiting for that second wind. I said just try and gave him soft drinks and a power bar. In thought this was the start of it (a comeback) but still nothing. He was not complaining but he felt weird.? Aqeel held serve without too much trouble and despite another ace by Gonzales, his third, he was broken as Pakistan eased in front 3-2 and when a fourth ace by Quereshi enabled Pakistan to take a 4-2 lead it was only a matter of time before they completed the rout. Huey was up 30-love on his serve but his inexplicable failure to move and to get to the ball saw Pakistan break with ease to go 5-2 up before Aqeel Khan ended the Filipinos agony by holding serve to take the third set 6-2 for the match. Kraut told us before ?I think the decider will be the singles not the doubles. I guess they will have to put Quereshi in the first singles tomorrow against Ruben and then we have PJ Tierro. We?ll talk and see what?s going to happen.? Kraut added, ?we have to remember we are ahead 2-1 and we have to stay positive.? Aisam Quereshi told the Manila Standard ?we executed the game-plan pretty well. I told you I have played Treat Huey many times and obviously he knows my strengths and I know his strengths and weaknesses. I think today we were able to exploit them very well. I have to give a lot of credit to my partner Aqeel who stepped it up. Yesterday he had many chances to win the singles also but he came out today with all the energy and he played the big points really well. The doubles is our main strength and I am happy I was able to get Pakistan a win, our first win in the Philippines and I am happy I was a part of it.? Quereshi said Huey?s performance ?could be the pressure of Davis Cup. I have played him many times on the pro circuit but I told you the Davis Cup is a completely different ballgame and experience matters a lot. I have been playing for Pakistan more than he?s been playing for the Philippines and I think we brought a lot of energy and it could be that he was a little bit tight and nervous. I know he was not able to play up to his potential but we have to take it and execute at our end.? He said he was happy they were able to win in three sets because it gives Aqeel a break to recover and hopefully we can do well tomorrow as well.? Quereshi said ?I enjoy playing with Aqeel. He is a great player. We have a great record in the Davis Cup (18 wins to 4) and I think this is a pretty historic win because in the past we have lost 5-0 and I hope it can boost him up for tomorrow and he can come out again fire and get a point again in the singles? which would even the tie at 2-2. Quereshi said whether he plays or not will depend on the first match result which Aqeel will play. He said ?we have all the confidence in Aqeel. I think he is a great player and winning this match is definitely going to boost him up and hopefully he can get a win and then we?ll think about match No.5.? Aqeel Khan paid tribute to his partner Quereshi stating that ?whenever he is there I always play doubles like this. For us it's not surprising. The difference is that we didn?t miss our chances and availed of every single chance we got. That was the difference.? Aqeel conceded that in the third set they felt that Huey ?was not moving well on the court. Maybe they didn?t expect me to play like this and the morale will go down. On this surface if you are down two sets to love it's really tough to come back.? He said ?I am ready to give my best. I know the Filipino players are better on this court . I?ll enjoy the crowd and enjoy the match tomorrow.? Aqeel attributed his success to Quereshi who he said ?was behind this. I know I am playing with the top ten guy in the world who is going to support me on every single shot and that was a really big help for me. I was trying everything. If I was playing with someone else who is not that good I could not take all the chances because I knew Quereshi was there and he could cover up.? Looking ahead to the reverse singles on Sunday, Aqeel said ?it's going to be a good match. You can say he Philippines has an advantage on the clay court but we are now used to the humidity and I want to do better than yesterday? when he lost his opening singles in straight sets to PJ Tierro. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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