ISLAMABAD: Tennis aces Aisam-ul-Haq and Aqeel Khan have urged the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to allow Pakistan to hold the upcoming Davis Cup tie against China in Pakistan.

The tennis stars while speaking at a news conference held in connection with the announcement of a local tennis championship on Thursday said that the Davis Cup final against China which is Pakistan’s home tie should be held in Lahore.

“If the Davis Cup is held in Pakistan, it will usher in a new era which will help in the revival of tennis in Pakistan,” remarked Aisam who stated that if the final was staged on grass court, Pakistan chances of doing well in the match against China will be more.

On the occasion, Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) president Salim Saifullah said that he had been pleading the case at various forums.

“I had met with prime minister’s former advisor on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz and the Chinese ambassador in this regard. I hope China which is a friendly and brotherly country will come to Pakistan to play the Davis Cup tie in March,” he said.

The PTF president said that youth should be encouraged to participate in sports like tennis, adding that the government should allocate a piece of land for building an academy in the name of Aisam.

It may be mentioned here the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) has already requested the ITF to allow Pakistan to hold its upcoming Davis Cup tie on its home soil.

Also, it was announced in the news conference that the inaugural Serena Hotels Open Tennis Championship will be organized by the Serena Hotels in collaboration with the PTF here at the Syed Dilawar Abbas PTF Tennis Complex from Dec 6 to 12. The event carries the highest prize money of Rs700, 000.

Aisam said that he will play exhibition match before the start of the finals at the PTF Complex to encourage youngsters.

On the other hand, PTF secretary Mohammad Khalid Rehmani, said that qualifying rounds will commence on the Dec 4 and 5, adding that the federation had already received 100 entries.

The juniors’ singles final and men’s doubles final will be held on Dec 11 while boys’ U-14, men’s singles final and ladies singles final will be held on the subsequent day.

Two other categories are 45-plus doubles and 60-plus doubles.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2015