KARACHI, April 27: Former Davis Cup Captain and Wimbledon player Khawja Saeed Hai on Wednesday favoured fast-paced Defence Club Courts for the Davis Cup tie against Taiwan. “Our players especially Aisamul-Haq Qureshi is basically an attacking player, needs fast surface, “ he said in a rejoinder to another Davis Cupper Inamul-Haq, who had favoured Cosmopolitan Club.
“The fast grass courts has great advantage for attacking player and serve as well”. In my opinion Pakistan boys do much better on fast grass”, he maintained.
“Aqeel Khan also plays on fast and hard courts of Karachi and grass court also suits him” he remarked.
Veteran Saeed Hai, who led Pakistan 31 times in Davis Cup, besides appearing in premier events like Wimbledon and US Open said he had played on every surface, green clay courts, and even on a wooden tennis court was confident of Pakistan’s success on Defence Club’s fast grass courts.
Three day Davis Cup tie against Taiwan will be played from April 29 to May 1 at Lahore’s Defence club.
If Pakistan are able to beat Taiwan they will play Asia and Ocenia Zone Group-I World Group playoff against winner of India-Uzbekistan tie.
It may be recalled that Pakistan beat Taiwan 4-1 in the Davis Cup at home in 2004 but went down 0-5 against the same team on their own backyard.
He said Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) took his opinion on shifting the Davis Cup tie from Cosmopolitan Club and he advised them for well maintained and manicured grass courts of Defence Club.-—APP