LAHORE: The first Pakistani tennis player to qualify for Wimbledon in 31 years has been given some last minute pointers – by his mum, a former national champion.

Aisamul Haq Qureshi, 27, came through the qualifying rounds on Thursday with a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6 (7-9), 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) defeat of Canadian Frank Dancevic. “Go all out whoever you play, even if it’s Roger Federer, and don’t get overawed by big names,” said his mother Nausheen, who will travel to London to see her son play in the first round on Monday.

The last man to represent Pakistan at Wimbledon was Haroon Rahimin in 1976. Qureshi has drawn Britain’s Lee Childs in his opening match and if he wins he is likely to face Marat Safin of Russia, a draw his mother said could bring the best out of her son. “It’s not difficult – and since he is in the same draw as Federer, I pray he gets a chance to play the world number one,” said Nausheen, who won the first of her several Pakistan ladies singles titles in 1982. “It is a cherished moment for us. Aisam has made the whole nation proud,” said Nausheen.

The player’s father Ehtesham said his son was progressing fast. “Aisam’s performance at Halle international earlier this month was superb and beating Richard Gasquet of France was the highlight of his career. I see him going up and up,” said Ehtesham. Aisam, who is ranked number one in Pakistan and 259 at international level, hit the headlines in 2002 when he defied his country’s tennis federation by pairing with Israel’s Amir Hadad in the Wimbledon doubles. Qureshi’s move irked the federation as Pakistan, an Islamic republic, does not recognise the Jewish state.

SOURCE : DAILY TIMES

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