‘Bops motivates me’

Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi (left) and India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan during the draw ceremony of the Davis Cup World Group I play-offs held in Islamabad yesterday. PIC/AFP

Pakistan tennis ace Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi said on Friday he was motivated by the rise of his former doubles partner Rohan Bopanna, ahead of a historic Davis Cup clash against arch-rivals India. India's Bopanna rose to No. 1 on the ATP rankings after winning the Australian Open last month, becoming the oldest player ever to snag the top spot at the age of 43.

Qureshi and Bopanna, dubbed the Indo-Pak Express, paired over a decade ago to break into the Top 10 and reach the 2010 US Open final. "Becoming World No. 1 and winning the Australian Open is a massive achievement and in a way it motivates me as well and inspires a lot of people," 43-year-old Qureshi told reporters ahead of a first Davis Cup tie against India on home soil since 1964.

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Forever friendship

"I feel very proud of him, obviously I started my doubles career with him and we made a breakthrough together," he said, adding their "friendship will remain forever."

Bopanna is not part of the visiting Indian camp, having retired from the Davis Cup last year. The last tie between the two countries, which have fought three wars since they were forged out of violent partition 76 years ago, took place in neutral Kazakhstan in 2014 with India winning 4-0.

"The Indian team just reaching Pakistan is already a win for me," Qureshi said. "I'm happy and proud to be a part of it - that tennis might play a role in mending the ties with India." India are the strong favourites on paper, but both camps said they expected a competitive clash.

‘Emotional moment'

Indian captain Zeeshan Ali - whose father was part of the 1964 team - described coming to Pakistan as "emotional." "The last time India played against Pakistan 60 years ago my father was on the team and he played three of the matches which he won," Ali said. "For me to be back here in Pakistan as captain of the Indian team is an emotional moment."

Ali added that he hoped the tie would prove positive for tennis. "If we can help in any way to spread good friendship and the game of tennis then we would have achieved our goal." Political differences over Kashmir mean sporting teams from each side rarely visit the other unless taking part in sanctioned multi-national events.

Indian player Yuki Bhambri told AFP the pressure of playing against Pakistan disappears once you step on the court. "There's already a lot of pressure when playing for your country...I don't think there is any scope for adding more." Asked if Bopanna had considered coming out of retirement to play against Qureshi, Bhambri said: "I think if he had known before [retiring] that there was a possibility, I'm sure he would have liked the chance to come here and play."

High voltage India-Pak action

February 3:
>> 1st singles: Ramkumar Ramanathan v Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
>> 2nd singles: Aqeel Khan v Sriram Balaji

February 4:
>> Doubles: Barkatullah-Muzammil Murtaza v Yuki Bhambri-Saketh Myneni
>> 1st reverse singles: Ramanathan v Khan
>> 2nd singles: Aisam v Balaji