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 46th seeds in their effort to add the 9th. 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?
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