Pakistan started off with an advantage of 2-1 lead. But Kim Young Joon restored the parity by beating Aisam-ul-Haq in five marathon sets.
Aisam fought bravely in an encounter that lasted four hours 27 minutes which stretched the full distance, with first four sets ending in a tie-breaker.
Joon earned the win with a score of 6-7 (7/4), 7-6 (5/7), 6-7 (7/2), 7-6 (5/7), 6-4 and also remained unbeaten in the tie. In the first singles, Joon had beaten Aqeel also in a long match lasting three and half hours on Friday.
Aqeel, confidently faced his rival Tae in the do or die final tie.
Aqeel notched-up a straight set win 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 after one hour 55 minutes battle.
Aqeel won the first set too easily when he broke Tae’s service in the fifth and ninth game.
He was on the verge of breaking Tae’s service in the second set’s fourth game. But Tae denied Aqeel a chance after two deuces and two advantages.
However, Aqeel managed to break Tae’s service in the 8th game to wrap up the second set and doubled the lead.
Aqeel started the third set on aggressive note and broke Tae’s service in the very first game after one deuce. But Tae replied in the fourth game and broke Aqeel’s service in the fourth game after two deuces and levelled the score 2-2 in the set.
In all, Aqeel hit four aces and did three double-fault. Tae smashed three aces but committed four double-fault.
Earlier, in the marathon Aisam-Joon tie Aisam no doubt played a great game, but Joon played well and justified his ranking among Asia’s top 10 players.
He hit a great number of aces (42) but he also did 19 double-fault as against Joon’s 35 aces and only eight double-fault.
Aisam got a chance to break Joon in the 8th game of the same set, but the Korean saved it after two deuces. Aisam again made a fine start in the 10th game, which proved the last, when he had taken 30-0 lead while Joon was at serve.
Pakistan coach Rashid Malik said that he was sure about Aqeel’s win in the fifth match because he was in good form. He said that he would give more credit of Pakistan’s win to Aqeel.
Rashid said that a win against South Korean after a long time of 25-years was an excellent feat.
However, he advised PTF to search more players as Pakistan would likely to face either India, Uzbekistan, Japan, New Zealand in next tie in December this year.
PTF president Dilawer Abbas, announced a cash prize of Rs 50,000 each for coach Rashid and two players Aisam and Aqeel. Cash prizes of Rs 25,000 each for Nomi Qamar and Jalil were also announced. Both were included in the team but they were not provided a chance to play in any match.
Besides, the players will also be given Rs 20,000 for each victory and Rs 10,000 for the match which they lost.
Results: Kim Young Joon (S Korea) beat Aisam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) 6-7 (7/4), 7-6 (5/7), 6-7 (7/2), 7-6 (5-7), 6-4. Aqeel Khan (Pakistan) beat Kim Kyu Tae (South Korea) 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. Pakistan won the tie 3-2.
Our Sports Reporter from Islamabad adds: Pakistan tennis boss, Syed Dilawar Abbas expressed delight over the country’s 3-2 Davis Cup victory over South Korea and said Aqeel Khan had proved his mettle again.
“I am very happy that Pakistan won the tie and Aqeel’s aggressiveness in the reverse singles, with the match tied 2-2, had proved decisive.”
He pointed out that while Aqeel held his nerve to clinch the tie, Aisam-ul-Haq played a sheet anchor role. “Aisam won the first singles with flair but it was a tough reverse singles that he lost.”
While Aqeel wrapped it up for Pakistan with a victory over Korean No. 2 Kyu-Tae Im, Aisam had to be on court for nearly four and a half hours before losing to Young-Joon Kim in five sets.
The victory means that Pakistan would remain in the Asia Oceania Group I, an honour that Dilawar said had been achieved because of fair selection.