LAHORE, Aug 6: Pakistan’s tennis ace Aisam-ul-Haq has said that by attaining international ranking of 154 in the singles and 129 in the doubles, the target he had set for this summer had been achieved.
Talking to Dawn after his arrival from a successful tour of Europe on Monday, Aisam said he had started off 2007 with comprehensive planning and thanked God for helping him to remain on the target.
“I have been enjoying complete match fitness and that really helped me continue playing in the international circuit and I am thankful to Allah The Almighty for helping me to do this,” Aisam expressed.
Aisam, who has to appear in the US Open qualifiers starting from Aug 20, returned home after winning doubles events of three competitions – in Germany, US and Spain – besides reaching the singles quarter-finals and semi-finals.
At Wimbledon, he achieved a major success when he reached the second round, showing glimpses of his quality play against Marat Safin, one of the world’s top players, before losing.
About his future plan, Aisam says: “I want to continue the run in international circuit and now my next target is to join the list of world’s top 100 by the end of 2007. The target is achievable as I am close to it therefore, I am quite hopeful to reach my goal.”
Aisam said before featuring in the US Open he would play in another event in New York, but only in the doubles event, with India’s No. 1 Rohan Bopanna. Aisam and Bopanna won three doubles titles recently.
“I am enjoying my tennis with new partner Bopanna and we are doing well together with a hope for more success,” he said.
Aisam, who did not appear for Pakistan in any Davis Cup tie this year, however, dispelled the impression that he preferred his international ranking, thus skipped the national duty at the Davis Cup.
“It is totally baseless that I preferred my own ranking over the national duty. I have never said any such thing in the past. Yes, I was not available for the tie against the Philippines, but for the next one against Pacific Oceania the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) did not make any contact with me,” he clarified.
Pakistan lost to the Philippines in February and to Pacific Oceania in April by identical margin of 3-2 and were relegated to Group-III from Group-I.
Asked how he felt over the contrasting situation that as individual he achieved success but the country had been relegated to the lowest group of the Davis Cup, during the same period, Aisam expressed his sorrow and held the PTF office-bearers responsible.
“The PTF should respect and encourage the players and for that the federation has to give more benefits and sufficient money to the players because even one player can make the officials and the nation proud,” he insisted.
About his willingness to play the tie against Ocean Pacific, Aisam said he could make his mind, adding it was the courtesy that at least the PTF should have asked him for his availability.
“I am ready to play for the country in future but I have to settle down some matters with the PTF,” Aisam said.
To a question, Aisam said that he had no issue with the PTF related to money, adding that there were some other matters to be discussed.
“I have been playing for Pakistan from the core of my heart, caring little about money and I would like to continue to do whatever I can do for the country,” he stated.
Aisam said he was against the existing system of the game in Pakistan and believed the PTF had to do a lot of for the players especially at the junior levels.