ISLAMABAD: Pakistan seized a commanding 2-0 lead in its Davis Cup World Group II tie against Senegal after winning both opening singles matches in gruelling three-set battles on the grass courts of Islamabad on Friday.

The home side’s charge was led by Muzammil Murtaza and veteran Aqeel Khan, who each secured laboured victories.

Murtaza provided the initial breakthrough in a match lasting two hours and 14 minutes, rallying to defeat Senegal’s Nicolas Jadoun 6-3, 1-6, 7-5.

The second singles saw a historic performance from 44-year-old Aqeel Khan, who demonstrated his enduring class by overcoming Seydina Andre 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 in a two-hour, 28-minute marathon.

With this win, Aqeel entered the record books as the eighth-oldest player in Davis Cup history to record a singles match-win. More notably, he is the oldest player this century to achieve a singles victory above the regional level and the fourth-oldest to do so at any level this century.

The action will continue on Saturday with the doubles rubber, where Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Muzammil will partner against the Senegalese duo of Andre and Jadoun.

Following the doubles, the tie will conclude with the two reverse singles matches as per the Davis Cup format.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2026