KARACHI: Tennis ace Aqeel Khan, who steered Pakistan to Davis Cup group I in 2018, said the country has a little edge over South Korea in the first round clash which takes place at the grasscourt in Islamabad from Feb 2 to 4 next year.

“We’ve the advantage of home conditions and will go all out to repeat the Lahore’s 2003 winning feat against the Koreans,” said Aqeel, who was involved in the longest Davis Cup tie break against Young-Jun Kim in that tie which lasted 36 points.

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan had notched up magnificent 3-2 win over South Korea in the Asia-Oceania group I third round playoff played at the grasscourt of Defence Club Lahore in 2003.

Aqeel, 37, was delighted for taking Pakistan to group I yet again after 2016 by getting the better of Thailand 3-2 at the Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad’s grasscourt recently.

“Our strategy was to seize 2-0 lead on day one and then go for the reverse singles which worked accordingly,” he maintained.

In the run up to the final, Pakistan won 3-2 over Iran at home in the first round rubber followed by a walkover against Hong Kong-China in the second round as the latter refused to come citing security concerns.

Aqeel, who had many memorable wins to his credit including guiding Pakistan to World Group playoff where it lost 0-5 to Chile on their soil in 2005, termed return of international tennis at home as a good omen.

“Pakistan suffered a lot as it remained in isolation for over a decade and the return of international tennis has heralded a new dawn after a lapse of 12 years, the last being group I second round tie against Chinese Taipei which we won 4-1,” he remarked.

He said the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has amended the rules of Davis Cup and the singles will be played of best of three and the doubles best of five from next year.

To a question the country’s top player said he and his contemporary Aisam-ul-Haq may play for the country for a year or two more before calling it a day. He identified his sibling Yasir Khan, Abid Ali Akbar, Abid Mushtaq, Shahzad Khan, Samir Iftikhar, Ahmed Chaudhry, Abdal Haider, Heera Ashiq and junior Yousuf Khan among others, who will carry the responsibility.

Aqeel also called upon these players to work hard like we (Aqeel, Aisam) did for the last many years. “Both of us were equally good on hardcourts and grasscourts,” he said.

The country’s top player said veteran’s Rashid Malik, M. Khalid and M. Khaliq were good on grasscourts while Hamid-ul-Haq, Inam-ul-Haq, Islam-ul-Haq and Mushaf Zia were outstanding on claycoruts.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2017