June 28, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 12, 1428

KARACHI, June 27: Pakistan on Wednesday celebrated a Wimbledon win by rising local star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, a rare tennis success in this cricket-obsessed South Asian nation.

The 27-year-old – the first Pakistani to play in the Wimbledon men's singles since Haroon Rahim in 1976 – outsmarted Britain's Lee Childs 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) on his maiden Wimbledon singles appearance on Tuesday.

He now plays Russian Marat Safin in the second round, but win or lose, Aisam’s achievement was so unusual that it even pushed cricket off the sports pages of the newspapers.

Former great Khawaja Saeed Hai, who played the main rounds at Wimbledon for three consecutive years from 1954 to 1956, hailed Aisam’s ‘brilliant’ performance.

“I used to get the world's top players in the first round but Qureshi got a lucky draw and won,” said Hai, who also played the US and French Open in 1960s.

“Now it is up to him to cash in and although Safin is not playing well these days the Russian would still be difficult to beat.”

The best performance by any Pakistani in a Wimbledon singles competition was by Haroon Rahim who reached the second round 31 years ago.

Hai said Aisam’s win must lift tennis in Pakistan, where it is overshadowed by cricket, hockey and squash.

“In the old days even my wins over English champions in tournaments never made a line in the newspapers, but now the media has projected Aisam’s win and I hope that younger players will try to emulate his achievements,” said Hai.—AFP