25 September 2004	Saturday	09 Shaban 1425

ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: Aisamul Haq Qureshi went down with cramps on Friday but fortunately recovered to help Pakistan pull level 1-1 in their Asia Oceania Zone Group I playoff against New Zealand at the Islamabad Club.

After Aqeel Khan, much to everyone's surprise, surrendered meekly to Mark Nielsen in the opening singles 0-6, 2-6, 2-6, Aisam who led two sets to love against Simon Rea, required medical treatment on court after falling 5-6 behind in the third set.

Although he quickly got his act together to force a tie- break, he was unable to prevent Rea extending the match into the fourth set. But to the relief of the Pakistan camp, Aisam kept his nerve to warp up the match winning 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3.

New Zealand, however, thought they could have finished the day 2-0 up. "Nielsen beat Aqeel easily as he did last time and Aisam, who is a good player was lucky to win," Bruce Derlin, the touring non-playing captain said.

"Unfortunately we couldn't get an early break in the fourth set, which in my opinion would have forced a fifth set. He (Aisam) was not in great shape, it looked that way."

All seemed to be going well for the No. 1 Aisam as he virtually had the match in his bag leading 5-3 in the third set. But Rea came fighting back to even the scores at 5-5 breaking his rival's serve in the 10th game in which the Pakistani double faulted thrice.

This allowed Rea to get on top and he went on to win the set in a tie-break that clearly had the home team worried. "Yes we knew that because of the cramps, it would become difficult for Aisam if the match went to five sets," Pakistan's non-playing captain Rashid Malik said.

Aqeel, who went into the tie with a string of successes in recent weeks, looked off colour against the towering Nielsen who dominated the match almost from start to finish.

Nielsen, New Zealand's No 1, broke Aqeel's serve three times in the first set, twice in the second and once in the third as he toyed with an opponent whose superior ranking did not seem to impress the rival camp.

"Aqeel is 350 by playing in Pakistan and India, a ranking achieved not by playing in tournaments in the US or Europe," Derlin said. "If you look at Aqeel and you look at Aisam, one is 350 and the other is 200, so there lies the answer because Aisam plays around the world."

Aqeel had difficulty getting his first serve in, making several unforced errors and he just did not have an answer to Nielsen's powerful serves and passing shots. "Nothing was working for me, I was caught on an off day," said Aqeel on whose fine form in the run-up to the tie, Pakistan were largely banking.

Although the opening singles began as early as 10 am with the sun shining nice and bright, the heat did not seem to bother Nielsen who seemed completely at home on the clay court.

"Yes clay is his favourite surface," said Derlin. Saturday will see the doubles match being played with both sides yet to decide the pairs. Pakistan have nominated Asim Shafik and Aqeel while the visitors have named Nielsen and Rea.

However these nominations could be changed. "At the moment, the top two have been nominated; we will talk about it as a team and we will see. It is a big match and someone has got to be 2-1 up," remarked Derlin.

RESULTS (SINGLES): Mark Nielsen (NZ) bt Aqeel Khan (Pak) 6-0, 6- 2, 6-2; Aisamul Haq Qureshi (Pak) bt Simon Rea (NZ) 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3. Saturday match: Doubles