Stop War, Start Tennis

With this message on the back of their shirts and in the thick of things, Rohan-Aisam have been hitting brilliant backhands, powerful forehands and body line serves as they make a statement, a powerful one to reckon with.

This is a start of an epic saga for two men; one at the baseline, the other at the net; waiting to pounce on any loose returns with sheer ruthlessness, the breath of determination fill their nostrils as the sweat of perseverance burn the passion for the sport in their hearts, and well, they wear their hearts out on the rackets, serving aces and smashing returns.

Two men, who form a great partnership and equally unusual, both on and off court. Hailing from Bengaluru, Southern India, Rohan Bopanna, a not so famous name in the international tennis circuit, even if a little in his home country, teamed up with Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi in 2007 to form tennis world’s Indo-Pak Express. Little was known of them at that point of time. They consumed a healthy chunk of time to realize their potential as a unit as they started off as on and off partners. But right from the time they started playing together, Rohan and Aisam always hogged the limelight, sometimes for their great game co-ordination and mostly for the nations they represented.

Rohan and Qureshi, together, have won around 10 challenger trophies, but are yet to win a Grand Slam. Well, they came very close to achieving that feat in the just concluded U.S. Open as they faltered at the final hurdle by losing out to the Bryan Brothers in the championship match. The Bryan bros are the best in the doubles circuit, and they have been there for quite some time now, with 9 majors under their belt. But they were pushed to the brink by the 46^th seeds in their effort to add the 9^th. The final scoreline read as Bob Bryan/ Mike Bryan beat Rohan Bopanna / Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi in straight sets; 7-6(5) 7-6(4). “The Indo-Pak Express was running pretty well until we met these guys”, said Qureshi.

The focal point of the emerging combo’s game is their big serve and powerful ground strokes, which proved quite tough for the No.1 seeds too. Both Rohan and Qureshi have healthy experience in the singles version of the game, and for a long time now. Both of them have been around in the ATP scenario for around a decade, more or less. This is the prime reason why the Indo-Pak duo prefer to play from the backcourt placed at the baseline, but do not miss out on opportunities at the net.

Interestingly, Bopanna and Qureshi are using the I-formation, which is quite new to the doubles game. Here, they stand in a perpendicular way to the net, both the server and the one at the net. The advantage of this formation is that the opponent cannot decide on which way the guy at the net will go after the serve. Consequently, the server moves to the other side, as per their pre-decided plans. This is very effective in closing out on opponents’ returns, which are usually volleys straight down the middle.

The Indo-Pak Express is as active outside court as they are inside it. They have used the example of their partnership to start a new, fresh and rejuvenated effort to bring the two brother nations to a common peace and status of harmony with their campaign of “Stop War, Start Tennis” in the global forum reaching out to the millions of Indians and Pakistanis living outside their motherlands too, apart from the ones living in their own country.

Rohan has expressed that it is a great feeling when he sees Pakistani supporters rooting for him when he plays along with their son, Qureshi. During their entire U.S. Open campaign, the Indian and Pakistani ambassadors to the United Nations rooted for them and supported them all the way as they went down in a blaze of glory.

Everyone aware of their feat will be acknowledged of their noble deed towards brotherhood and mankind. And the liking the duo has developed in people’s minds was evident from the noise level in the Arthur Ashe arena last Friday and the support base for them.

Even winner Bob Bryan said, “What they are doing is a lot more important than winning the U.S. Open”. The Bryan bros also decided to donate a part of the cash award to the Pakistan flood relief fund.

Their achievements on court, no matter how big or small, shall always remain inferior to the impact this partnership can and is having on the relations between the two neighboring countries, and the dialogue process. Alas, they haven’t been able to yet showcase that it is action, and not dialogue alone, that can lead to a more peaceful and better tomorrow.

All of us in both the countries are extremely proud of the performance of the inspirational duo and all praise for them. But, will things remain the same when they start losing a few matches, not win a few trophies when they might be expected to? May be not. Here, success is short-lived.

The journey has just started for the duo in real sense, now. It is now that they shall feel the burden of sub-continental expectations, the wrath of fans who worship you during your good days and pelt stones at times when you experience a rough ride, a bump in the way.

Looking at the two of them, we can call ourselves brothers in arms, separated by the LOC. If you look back at our history, we are sons of the same mother, brought up by different and contradicting fathers. A step back may lead to a whole leap forward, but the courage lacks, from within. It is a billion dollar question: Can we replace racquets with torches igniting brotherhood?

Red Redemption

Old is gold. It sure stands true for the banyan tree in our backyard breathing life into us for the last couple of generations. But does it hold the same degree of relevance for the demi gods I have been worshipping from the time I got an idea of the tricks of their trade? These men, clad in red shirts (soaked in victory), seem to wear the look of tired and worn out warriors, left with nothing in their armory but pride and history.

Marched on by their ever so planned general for the last couple of decades, these red devils on the wrong side of the age bar have won titles, buried challenges and laid their opponents to their graves of defeat. For years, they have worn their hearts out on their sleeves, but as the times have passed, these sleeves have gathered rust. But the question that gets raised here is whether their rusted glory can empower them to go on and challenge for yet another English Premier League Crown? Time and only time holds the answer to this question, perhaps.

But men of pride and glory do not let time decide for them, they define it on their own terms. The likes of Scholes and Giggs are considered veterans in today’s date; veterans who have served their team through the thinnest of situations to reach the most glorious of pinnacles the legend of the game of football can and has to offer. They have earned the tag of ‘experienced campaigners’ not by sitting under the sun, but by sweating it out season after season. The list of somewhat exhausted yet existing old devils doesn’t end dead red with them, as they have company in the form of Edwin Van Der Sar (a liability for the Dutch, an added ability for Old Trafford) and the man who leads and sets exemplary achievements on-field; Rio Ferdinand; the captain of the topsy-turvy ship.

But the question that pops up in our minds now is why we are, all of a sudden, calling Manchester United the team on the wrong side of the age-bar when it’s the Blues from Stamford Bridge with more senior citizens in the top flight than any other premier team (read EPL’s top 4)?? Or is it because Sir Alex Ferguson sports a comparatively aged team when put on the same platter as Arsenal, led by his bitter most rival; Arsene Wenger? The reason for the anxious query lies in the team’s performances in the opening part of this fresh new season, which hasn’t been good, to put it mildly.

The red devils have had a poor start to the season so far without having stamped their authority on either the English Premier League or the European scenario. Wins have been hard to come by, with defenses going off to sleep even against lowly opponents such as Sunderland and Blackpool. Edwin Van Der Sar has looked a lazy log between the posts who seems to be standing in front of a firing squad helplessly trying to lash on to bullets which used to be footballs to him a season back. Perhaps the vision’s blurring out at the age of 40, a reason why he has announced his retirement by season end. This is one area where the Manu bench lacks substantially serious strength with only Tomasz Kuszczak as the obvious second choice, nowhere close to the Dutch legend with the gloves.

And if defensive lapses were not the only worry for Sir Alex, Manchester United, in this new season, has also lacked creative options in the midfield with lackluster performances, so far, being silver lined by the absence of goal scoring options up front too.

But it has been this way for the last three years or so; they haven’t had the best of starts to their seasons for the last couple of times. So, why a hue and cry this time? That is due to the nature of their gameplay so far in this ongoing season. The real glory of Manchester United lies in the un-put-down-able fact that even when they play poor football, there is always an undeniable expectation of a better tomorrow which keeps Old Trafford roaring in soaring fever pitch voices. But this time round, tomorrow seems to be pretty much out of vision blurred out by the clouds of uncertainty.

If one considers the battle for the League Crown for the last half a decade, it’s been a war of the red devils against the mighty blues who just grow mightier with every passing season. Stamford Bridge has seen the home team lose only once in the last 90 odd games, now that is some statistic to reckon with. In such times when their bitter competitors/rivals have struggled to find form at home and away, Chelsea have stamped their authority on almost all matches against all opponents so far. With a 4+ goal difference in the league, Chelsea have run riot on the pitch every time they have stepped on it. On analyzing Chelsea’s stupendous performance in the season so far, despite them having comparatively more aged players, the management at Old Trafford will be questioning themselves: What is going wrong with us then?

Quite obviously, the answer to all the anxious anticipatory looks is not about the tired legs, but may be of the will or fortitude. Lack of intent or should I say, intensity, can be a valid reason behind their failure so far, but not a good enough excuse. None would be more aware of that than the great, Sir Alex Ferguson, himself. And it’s not just Chelsea they have to tackle, but also Arsenal and Manchester City, primarily; both these teams have shown good form and potential in this early part of the season and looming threats on United’s chances of winning another Premiership crown. For all United fans, these are times for prayer, with expectance of joy and glory in near future. Will the experienced men stand up and respond to the call of the hour? Can they drape the trophy in red once more? Will Old Trafford rejoice again?

I have my fingers crossed, what about you?..............