ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s hopes to make it to the Davis Cup World Group playoffs were shattered following the home side’s 4-1 defeat against Uzbekistan in the Asia Oceania Group I tie here at the Pakistan Sports Complex on Saturday.

Pakistan veterans Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan were dealt with easily by Uzbeks Denis Istomin and Jurabek Karimov who took just an hour and nine minutes to win the double’s fixture 6-2, 6-4.

Istomin and Jurabek Karimov exhibited excellent skills of serve and volley games. In both sets, they earned nine aces against the three scored by the hosts.

Through his serve and powerful forehand strokes, Istomin kept the Pakistani pair under pressure from the very start of first set, comfortably winning the opening set 6-2. In second set, both teams held their first serve but the Uzbek pair, after good fight in third game, broke hosts’ serve.

They kept increasing their lead were leading 4-2 before the start of the seventh set. Pakistan won the ninth game to reduce the visitors’ lead and brought the score to 5-4 but Istomin outclassed the host pair in the next game to finish the set 6-4.

This was Aisam and Aqeel’s first ever defeat on home soil as a pair.

Having a comfortable 2-1 lead in the tie, the guests team entered in reverse singles, where Istomin brushed aside Aqeel in straight sets 6-1, 6-3 in just 58 minutes.

Aqeel, the long-standing national champion, was too nervy against the senior player, making two consecutive double faults in his serve in the first game of the match and losing it without earning even a single point.

Both players held their serve before Istomin broke Aqeel’s serve in the fifth game. Istomin broke another serve in the seventh game, finishing the first set 6-1.

In the second set, Aqeel took a good start breaking Istomin’s first serve but his achievement was short-lived as in the second game Istomin broke Aqeel’s serve, leveling the set score 1-1, and repeated in the fourth game before registering a 6-3 victor and the match. His victory was decorated with 6 aces as well.

“I am happy about this victory, I played very comfortably,” Istomin told Dawn.

In the reverse singles, Aqeel lost to Istomin 6-1, 6-3 while young Muzammil Murtaza was brought down by Khumoyun Sultanov 6-3, 6-1.

On Friday, Aisam had to forfeit the opening singles fixture against Istomin due to a thumb injury before Aqeel leveled the tie 1-1 after beating Sanjar Fayziev.

Pakistan last made it to the World Group playoffs 13 years ago.

Speaking to Dawn some former Davis Cuppers said besides ranking factors — with all visiting players far better than the Pakistani players on paper — two apparent mistakes by the home side also contributed to the defeat.

They said Pakistani players didn’t get proper time to play on this grass court because of the national ranking tournament in Lahore.

“To take full advantage of the home tie, maximum chances should have been provided to team to understand these courts,” said a former Davis Cupper, who requested not to be named.

The former players said instead of utilising the venue the team participated in national grass court championship in Lahore. The team reached Islamabad last Monday only.

Another former player believed Aisam should have not been fielded against the strong Istomin in Friday’s singles to preserve his energy for Saturday’s crucial doubles.

However, non-playing captain Mohammad Khalid defended both the decisions.

“This is not an issue. After Lahore’s tournament, we held practice sessions at these courts,” he said. Talking about Aisam’s singles, he said that the first match is always an important one, “so I did right thing to play Aisam against Istomin.”

“In fact, our players put their all out efforts, but guest players played very well.”

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2018