Pakistan Davis Cup team lost both the opening day singles of the Asia-Oceania Group-II Tie to Korea on Friday at the hard courts of Gimcheon Total Sports Town Tennis Courts, Gimcheon, Korea According to reports received here, Pakistan’s number one Aqeel Khan was sidelined by Kyu-Tae Im in straight sets while country’s tennis ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi fought his heart out to go down in a five set marathon match.
Kyu-Tae Im took just about 40 minutes to send Aqeel packing in the opening match of the day with a score of 6-2, 6-4, 6-2. But Aisam was unlucky to lose the match to Yong-Kyu Lim after a five set match. In fact it was a match of fluctuating fortunes in which Lim drew the first blood by winning 6-2 but Asiam came from behind not only breaking Lim but also won the set to go equal on one-set all 7-5.
Lim again showed some brilliant returns and serve game to hold his game and won the third set 6-4 to go a set ahead. But Aisam made a statement that he was not the one who would go down easily and won the fourth set to match the score two-all. Lim, however, responded with grit and made full use of his home advantage and won the fifth and final set 6-3 to win the match. Pakistan now face a gigantic task to come back into the tie.
The teams have met six times in the past and Pakistan have won twice while Korea took away the tie four times and now is fairly in a good position to clinch their fifth tie. Pakistan last beat Korea at Defence Club in 2003 and both these players Aisam and Aqeel were instrumental in the win.