News by “Sana Ullah”
In a thrilling showdown, Aqeel Khan faced defeat in straight sets against Sriram Balaji, putting India at a 2-0 advantage in the Davis Cup World Group I playoff tie in Islamabad. Pakistan now faces the daunting task of winning all three remaining matches, with the doubles and reverse singles scheduled for tomorrow.
Earlier, Ramkumar Ramanathan secured a 1-0 lead for India by overcoming Aisam-ul-Haq in a closely-contested match that saw fitness issues for Aisam in the third set. Ramanathan capitalized on his opponent’s struggles, bageling him in the third set to clinch the victory.
The last encounter between these rivals occurred in neutral Kazakhstan in 2014, resulting in a 4-0 win for India. Pakistani player Qureshi expressed joy in hosting the Indian team, emphasizing the potential of tennis to foster goodwill between the nations.
While India is the favored team, both sides anticipate a fiercely competitive clash. Indian captain Zeeshan Ali, whose father played in the 1964 team, described the emotional significance of returning to Pakistan for the tournament.
Reflecting on the historical ties between the nations, Ali expressed the hope that the Davis Cup tie would contribute positively to the spirit of friendship and promote tennis as a unifying force.
