Pakistan's Qureshi Bids Farewell: 'I Have an Inner Peace'

As the sun rises over the Islamabad Tennis Complex the morning chill begins to disappear with the fog. Overlooking the newly resurfaced match courts, men dressed in the traditional shalwar kameez with woollen vests huddle around heaters as little plumes of steam rise from teacups. Sparrowhawks and a peregrine falcon circle lazily above as they scan the dry, dusty plains for prey.

Players warm up on court as the crack of polo balls being whacked by wooden mallets at the nearby Polo Club ring sharply through the air. The map places us in Pakistan, part of South Asia’s subcontinent, but it feels like we are in the pages of a Rudyard Kipling novel.

This is a historical moment for Pakistan tennis, as it is the first time they have hosted any type of ATP event. A fact that was not lost on one clever sponsor who titled his billboard, “Game. Set. History.”

While it is the first time for Pakistan hosting an ATP Challenger Tour event, it is also the last chance of the year for players hungry for those valuable PIF ATP Ranking points. On the Challenger Tour every point is priceless as a single point can be the deciding factor for direct entry into the main draw of an ATP Tour event.

Oddly enough there is one player in the main draw who is not trying to improve his ATP PIF ranking, Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi. Qureshi is both the host and the star of this week’s show and it just so happens to be is his curtain call. This will be his last tournament in a career that has lasted more than 25 years.

“I have an inner peace with tennis,” Qureshi claimed. “Like all tennis players, I would have liked to have won more matches, but I know that I have given tennis my very best. Now, I am so blessed to have a new purpose. My mission is to develop tennis in Pakistan and help other Pakistanis reach the ATP Tour. This ATP Challenger, while it might be just another stop on the tennis tour for the players, is the cornerstone of our future foundation.”

For his last tournament, Qureshi is paired not with his longtime partner, Aqeel Khan, but with Muzammil Murtaza.

“Aqeel and I have had our time in the spotlight,” Qureshi said. “We have had many wonderful memories together. Now it is time to give the youngsters an opportunity to play with the big boys.”

An important part of any tournament that often goes unnoticed are the ball boys. This week they have been nothing short of fantastic. Quite impressive how they can catch a booming first serve off the bounce barehanded with such grace and confidence. I suppose when you grow up on a cricket pitch catching a tennis ball is easy-peasy.

“As players we travel from tournament to tournament oftentimes without realizing all the criteria, details and effort that it takes to host an event,” Qureshi continued. “Especially so, for the first time. There is a tremendous amount of work, but the reward and the positive impact that having an ATP event will have on Pakistan tennis is so worth the stress.”

Author: Robert Davis, ATP Tour

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