RP opens bid vs Pakistan minus top gun

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines hopes to pounce on the absence of Pakistan’s top player as it tries to seize control in the opener of the Asia-Oceania Zone Group II Davis Cup tie at the Philippine Columbian Association courts in Paco, Manila today.

Top Pakistani Aisam Qureshi opted to skip the event to compete in the ongoing Campbell Hall of Fame tennis championship in the US where he is entered in the doubles event.

“We’re unfortunate that we don’t have our No. 1 player since he couldn’t make it here,” said Pakistan team captain Rashid Ahmad Malik in yesterday’s draw of lots at the Century Park Hotel.

“But we feel we still have a strong chance in this tie although the Philippines seemed more solid than our team without our No. 1 player,” he said.

Pakistan’s tennis chief Kwaja Saeed Hai said Qureshi was actually set to play against Team RP but changed his mind at the last minute.

The Association of Tennis Professionals-sanctioned meet has been delayed due to non-stop rains, forcing Qureshi to extend his stay in the US.

“We are disappointed because we feel he (Qureshi) should have been here, but it’s his decision,” said Hai.

With Qureshi out, Aqeel Khan takes over as the team’s No. 1 and will face RP No. 2 Fil-Am Treat Huey at 3 p.m.

Jalil Khan took over his older brother’s No. 2 position and will meet RP No. 1 Cecil Mamiit at 5 p.m.

The doubles match pitting Jalil Khan and Muhammadi against Patrick John Tierro and Francis Casey Alcantara is set at 3 p.m. tomorrow, while the reverse singles will be played Sunday, also at 3 p.m. The lineup for the next two days, however, can be changed one hour prior to the match.

The Pakistan and the RP teams won their first-round matches against Oman and Hong Kong, respectively, with similar 4-1 scores last February.

But the Filipinos enjoy a 3-1 edge in their head-to-head duel with the Pakistanis, who will also try to adjust to the shell court surface and humid weather.

Team RP routed Pakistan, 4-1, in their last faceoff in 2007.       – Joey Villar