KARACHI – Pakistan’s Aisamul Haq Qureshi on Sunday faced a straight setsdefeat while defending his Barcelona Open doubles title.
Aisam, with his partner Jean-Julien Rojer, lost to F Lopez and M Lopez 7-6and 6-4. This was Aisam’s first finals appearance in the ongoing year wherehe was planning to walk away with silverware and a successful defence oftitle.
“I’m very happy and excited to be playing finals here,” Aisam had told themedia before the final. “It is the second year in a row and I am hoping towin it again. We’ll be ready physically and mentally for the final anddefend the title.” Last year Aisam had won the Barcelona Open with FlorinMergea while this year he is reuniting with his former doubles partnerRojer who is on the ninth position at the ATP rankings.
The Pak-Dutch duo cruised into the final of the Barcelona Open as theyoutplayed Guido Pella and Nicolas Jarry 7-6, 3-6, 10-7 in the semi-final onFriday.
Meanwhile, Aisam and Rojer do not play with each other regularly, while theresults show that the combination of the two works well as a team. “I knowhim very well, we played one tournament last year and made it to the finalsbut lost on match point, hopefully lost from match point,” Aisam had saidof his partner. “I’m hoping we will go one better this time. He is a topplayer and so far we have been helping each other pretty well.”
The world number 30 in the doubles ranking added that it is about helpingeach other as well being two players at the ATP circuit. “Rojer’s partnergot injured so he asked me to play this week and I had to avail theopportunity,” Aisam had explained. “I have the best shot to defend my titlewith him.”