Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi Falls in French Quarters

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

Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan of USA shake hands with Rohan Bopanna of India and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan following their victory during the men’s doubles quarterfinals match June 1.

Pakistan’s Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi and his Indian doubles tennis partner Rohan Bopanna were almost able to slay the dragon that has been tormenting them. That dragon has taken the shape of American tennis playing brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, who previously defeated Qureshi and Bopanna in the finals of the U.S. Open Men’s Doubles tournament this past September. In the 2011 French Open semifinals. the Indo-Pak Express were able to take the first set against the Bryans in a tiebreaker, 7-2. But Bob and Mike roared back and took the second set 6-3. That left a crucial third and final set that once again went to a tiebreaker. However, it was the Bryans who prevailed in this second tiebreaker, 7-3, to qualify for the semifinals. The Bryans, however, went on to lose in the semifinals to the unseeded team of Eduardo Schwank of Argentina and Juan Sebastian Cabal of Colombia.

Qureshi has moved up to a career high of number seven in the world mens’ doubles rankings. But that will be small consolation for him right now as the two of them continue to try to break through with their first Grand Slam doubles title. At least they have gotten back on the saddle after their disappointing end in Paris. The duo have already reached the final of the Gerry Weber Open in Germany just days after their loss.

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