Phl-Pakistan Davis cup tie: Top players duel in opening singles

MANILA, Philippines - Patrick John Tierro and Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales slug it out with Aqeel Khan and Samir Iftikar of Pakistan, respectively, seeking no less than a pair of victories in the opening singles and the early lead in the Asia Oceania Zone Group II Davis Cup tie at the PCA’s Plaza Dilao courts in Paco, Manila.

Philippine Tennis Association president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez picked Khan, Pakistan’s No. 1 player, in yesterday’s drawing of lots at the Parañaque City Hall, setting the latter up against the 27-year-old Tierro, the country’s No. 2 player, at 10 a.m.

No. 1 Gonzales will take on No. 2 Iftikar in the second singles at 1 p.m.

Tomorrow’s crucial doubles match will pit world doubles No. 25 Aisam Qureshi, in partnership with Khan, against world No. 27 Treat Conrad Huey, who will be with many-time PCA champion Johnny Arcilla set at 1 p.m.

The reverse singles, if necessary, will be played Sunday with Gonzales taking on Khan and Tierro battling Iftikar.

But focus will be on Tierro, out to translate his strong semifinal finish in a Men’s Future event – the Olivarez Cup last week to a victory over Khan as the Filipino bets hope to seize the momentum against a Pakistani team the former beat in five of their six meetings.

“Of course, I will try to get a win and try to give our country the early advantage,” said Tierro, who also started for Phl against Sri Lanka early in the year but lost that match although the Filipinos eventually won the tie.

It will also be a question of stamina under the scorching summer heat as weather condition is expected to be a big factor in both teams’ quest for glory.

Roland Kraut, the Phl’s non-playing captain, said the singles matches will be critical in the tie since the doubles, which was a sure thing for the Phl in past ties because of Huey, is expected to be hard-fought because of the presence of the fancied Qureshi.

“Our focus is try to win the singles because we expect a real tough fight in the doubles,” said Kraut.

Qureshi, for his part, thinks the tie will be decided through the fifth match.

“We have a pair of good teams here and although the conditions favor the Philippines, we expect to fight it out to the last match,” said Qureshi, whose biggest feat as a doubles player was when he and India;’s Rohan Bopanna made it as far as the US Open finals four years back.

The winner here will play the winner of the Thailand-Kuwait tie in September for a spot in Group I.