Meltzer-Petzschner beat Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi-Rohan Bopanna 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 to enter the semi-finals.
The slick Europeans were simply too strong for the South Asian duo. Initial nerves from Aisam and Rohan gave their opponents an early chance to break serve...which they did with ease. Half-way through the first set the Indo-Pak pair got back in the match but could not break their opponents' serve.

The second set was the most evenly-contested of the three, as reflected by the tie-breaker. Meltzer/Petszchner bagged it and from then on, it was a smooth ride to win the third set and the match.

Aisam and Rohan must take heart from their achievement though, especially Aisam as he was the first Pakistani to reach the quarterfinals of any grand slam, let alone the prestigious Wimbledon.

He and Rohan are improving as a pair and this last-16 match will only help them play better in the upcoming tournaments.

We will try to get reaction from Aisam and (hopefully) Rohan very soon.

Log to Dawn.com's Sports page for more updates and news on Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi.

 

Match point for Meltzer-Petszchner as Rohan serves.

Rohan serves as Aisam's family watches nervously. It's 30-all

Peltzschner serves at 40-0, Aisam's weak return allows Meltzer to win an easy point at the net and it's 5-2. The Indo-Pak pair will serve to stay in the tournament.

Petzschner's first serve hits the net. They win a point on the second one. 15-0

They're deep in discussion in-between points. Planning a comeback, hopefully?

The Pakistani number one gives away a point in his first serve.

Aisam serving to cling-on to some hope in this third set.

Aisam-Rohan's serve has been broken in the third set and by the Europeans, who have held their own to cruise through to a 4-1 lead. It looks ominous for the South Asian boys now. Meltzer/Petzschner lead by two sets to nil (2-0) and four games to one (4-1) in the third set.

Petzschner serves the European pair into a 2-1 lead in the third set. This could get away from Aisam and Rohan very quickly if they don't break serve now. Meltzer-Petschner prove too good for Aisam and Rohan taking the second set 7-6.

In the biggest upset of the tournament so far, Federer has been knocked out by Berdych 4-6 6-3 1-6 4-6.

It's 6-6 now and the tie-breaker will really test both pairs.

Aisam, Rohan power on, its 6-5.

Meltzer-Petschner drop just one point to make it 5-5.

Rohan serves well and its 5-4 to the South Asian pair.

4-3 to Aisam-Rohan

Metlzer is serving and it's 30 all. 2-2 now.

Aisam is serving very, very well in this game. He shoots down a couple of aces as he and his partner go up 2-1 up. If only they could break a serve somehow...

The Europeans hold serve with ease. 1-1 in the second set.

Rohan serves first in the second set. They (Aisam-Rohan) were in the danger of giving away another break of serve but come back well to make it 1-0.

They've bagged the first set, have Meltzer-Petschner. So the Europeans are now a set up in this men's doubles quarterfinal. Aisam and Rohan sent down five aces in the first set to Meltzer-Petschner's four.

Merlzer's serves are keeping Aisam-Rohan in the set. It's 40-40 at 5-4.

The deuce is converted to advantage by Aisam-Rohan...and they hold it to make it 5-4.

He is not serving too well. It's deuced at 5-3...

Not in this game though. The Europeans hold on to go 5-3 up. Aisam serving to stay in the set.

It seems that Aisam and Rohan have overcome the initial jitters. They are keeping up with their European opponents, despite being a game down. One break of serve will bring them level....

Rohan sends down a couple of strong serves and the score is 4-3 to Meltzer-Petschner.

The players are back from a drinks break. And Aisam-Rohan are 3-2 down as Meltzer/Petschner serve.

As Aisam-Rohan come back in the set with a hold of serve, Melzer-Petschner move up to 3-1. Aisam serving for the fifth game.

This is certainly not going well for the first-timers. Melzer/Petschner hold their serve to consolidate their first-set lead. 2-0 to to the Austrian-German pair. Nerves maybe?

Poor start to the match by the Indo-Pak pair as they go 40-0 and their opponents convert first of the three break points to go 1-0 up. Aisam was serving.

Aisam/Rohan to serve against Melzer/Petschner.

As the players warm up, let us have a look at the Aisam/Rohan journey to the quarterfinals. They beat India’s Somdev Devarman and Treat Huey of the Phillipines 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the first round. Their second-round went down to the wire as they beat Philipp Marx of Germany and Igor Zelenay of Slovakia 6-7,6-4,6-4,4-6 ,13-11.

Aisam and Rohan, and their opponents are on the court.

The women’s doubles quarterfinal is over, Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova have ousted number six seeds Kveta Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik.

The Indo-Pak duo will be up against Jurgen Melzer of Austria and his German partner Philipp Petzschner.

I say ‘hopefully’ because the match is scheduled at Court 18, a.k.a. Court Isner-Mahut (after the two legends of tennis folklore), and a women’s doubles match is currently underway at the historic court. So as soon as either Kveta Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik or Vania King/Yaroslava Shvedova win the match, we’ll see Aisam and Rohan in action.

Today is a historic day for Pakistani tennis. Our very own Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and his doubles partner Rohan Bopanna from India, are set to play their quarterfinal match at Wimbledon in a few moments, hopefully.

 

Hafsa Adil is a sports editor at Dawn.com

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