Daily Times

LAHORE: Pakistan’s tennis star Aisamul Haq Qureshi on Monday left here for Australia to participate in Australian Open Grand Slam Tennis Championship to be played from January 16.

Before the Australian Open, he will feature in the ATP World Tennis Championships in Brisbane (Australia) and Auckland (New Zealand). “It is going to be a tough event (Australian Open) but I am in good shape and spirit to do my best “, he said before his departure.” Aisam said he was playing every international event with a mind set to lift the level of his game and was quite confident to rise to the occasion during the tour of Australia and New Zealand.

“Participation in high profile tennis events requires top physical fitness and best of your playing abilities. And I will be getting into rhythm by taking part in the ATP World Tennis Championship in Australia and New Zealand,” he added. After Australian Open, he will be returning home to be a part of the Pakistan team to play in the crucial Davis Cup tie against Iran in the first week of February “Davis Cup tie will be a challenging event as the Iranian side are a tough side to beat and as an experienced team player I will be having much load of responsibility on me to play my due role for living up to the expectations,” said a confident Aisam.

He said participation in elite tennis events in Australia and New Zealand would be an added advantage for him and he would be fully prepared when Pakistan take on Iran in Davis Cup encounter. Replying a question, Aisam said he was enjoying playing tennis by maintaining top fitness and wanted to inspire his fellow young players to win glory for the country.