Wimbeldon 2002

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
41

http://www.espn.go.com/tennis/wimbledon02/s/2002/0629/1400437.html

Muslim chooses Jewish partner
ESPN.com news services

WIMBLEDON, England – He’s made history. The media has lauded him as a example for peace in the Mideast. And his country has condemned him.

After becoming the feel-good story of doubles play at Wimbledon, Pakistan’s Aisamul Haq Qureshi, a Muslim, has been criticized by his country’s sports officials for partnering with Israeli Amir Hadad at Wimbledon, according to the BBC.

On Friday, Hadad and Qureshi beat the 11th-seeded team of Ellis Ferreira of South Africa and Rick Leach of the United States 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. It makes Qureshi, 22, the first Pakistani to reach the third round at a Grand Slam event.

But he’s not being praised in Pakistan for his historic success. Instead officials are considering imposing a ban.

“Although he is playing in his private capacity, we officially condemn his playing with an Israeli player and an explanation has been sought from him,” Pakistan Sports Board director Brigadier Saulat Abbas told the BBC. “Since Pakistan has no links with Israel, Qureshi may face a ban.”

Before the tournament, Qureshi asked Hadad if he had a partner. They shook hands, entered the qualifying tournament and made it through to the main doubles draw.

"I didn’t even think about Qureshi being a Muslim until I went home and found out it was big news in Israel, that a Jew was playing with a Muslim,‘’ Hadad said. "I just thought of him as another tennis player, a human being.

"Maybe if we get far here we’ll do some good because people will see Muslims and Jews can be friends.‘’

All of the publicity over the partnership was unexpected.

“I am surprised at the fuss being made over my partnership,” Qureshi said. "I would like to be talked about for my tennis rather than politics.

“If we can change people’s minds then that would be a good thing.”

Hadad also remains committed to the partnership.

“I don’t care what people think about it,” Hadad told the BBC. "As long as we enjoy playing together we will continue. When we agreed to get together it was all about doing well here, making some money and improving our doubles ranking. If we win here then I would dedicate the victory to my family and to peace.

“It would be good for those doubters to see that even though we are from different religions it is possible for us to work together and have some fun. A Jew and a Muslim playing together is not the end of the world. We are all human beings. We have the same blood, the same skin.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Once again Politics is an un-invited guest and trying to ruin some guy’s career.

AK

42

Shino sorry but he sux, real hard. Not everything that is dutch is undutchable

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."

43

Asif, the good thing is, I have yet to see a pakistani person who is opposing his move… Its just these sports officials in Pakistan want to make issues out of stupid things… He is also teaming up with ur indian tennis player named paes according to rajputfury later on…

44

Aisam and Amir are playing their 3rd round match right now, but it’s not looking good. They lost the first set to Damm/Suk with 6-1.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/frown.gif

Umer, the Pakistani Brain of Austria

45

It’s over!

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/frown.gif

Hadad/Qureshi - Damm/Suk 1-6, 6-7, 4-6

But still it has been a great performance by the duo. Aisam is the first Pakistani to reach the 3rd round of a Grand Slam tournament.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif

Umer, the Pakistani Brain of Austria

46

The second set was quite close as they lost it 7/5 on serves.

Well played Aisam and hopefully better luck next time round.

47

Best of luck to you guyz next time. Very good for our country

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif

“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."

48

Well played Aisamul.
Nice to see some Pakistani player coming up.May be with soem experiences he will soon win some titles.

another good news is that Mahesh & Mirni(No 3 Seed)has moved into 4th round.

I hope he does well.

49

Scud Vs. Krajicek - 7-6 (7/2) 6-7 (4/7) 7-6 (7-1) 6-7 (5-7) - play suspended

What a match !! I am hoping/predicting a Scud win.

Another interesting match will be Venus Williams Vs. Justin Henin.

AK

50

The mens quarter final draw is as follows:

Leyton Hewitt v Sjeng Schalken

Tim Henman V Andre Sa

Xavier Malisse v not decided yet

David Nalbandian V Nicolas Lapentti

The Ladies quarter final draw is as follows:

Venus Williams v Elena Likhovtseva

Monica Seles V Justine Henin

Jennifer Capriati V Amelie Mauresmo

Serena Williams V Daniela Hantuchova

** Venus Williams and Justin Henin have already won their quarter final matches and are through to the semis**

Looks like the William sisters in the final again and amongst the men Leyton Hewitt looks the likely champion.

51

[quote]
Originally posted by ehsan:
The **mens quarter final draw is as follows:

Leyton Hewitt v Sjeng Schalken

Tim Henman V Andre Sa

Xavier Malisse v Richard Krajicek

David Nalbandian V Nicolas Lapentti

The Ladies quarter final draw is as follows:

Venus Williams v Elena Likhovtseva

Monica Seles V Justine Henin

Jennifer Capriati V Amelie Mauresmo

Serena Williams V Daniela Hantuchova

** Venus Williams and Justin Henin have already won their quarter final matches and are through to the semis**

Looks like the William sisters in the final again and amongst the men Leyton Hewitt looks the likely champion.**
[/quote]

52

Phillippoussis lost

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/frown.gif

hes such a stupid ass! he was winning the second set, n then couldnt hold his serve, n then a double fault on breakpoint final set

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/frown.gif

sighhhz
well played anyway.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/teary.gif

i,ll go back in my cave now sniffs.. no use watching wimbledon now.

“Its better to get shot for a sheep than for a lamb”

53

Ladies Final

V Williams V S. Williams

The William sisters have done it again

** Men's Semi Final **

Leyton Hewitt AUS (1)

v.

Tim Henman GBR (4)

Xavier Malisse BEL (27)

v.

David Nalbandian ARG (28)

Good to see seeds 27 and 28 in the semis.

54

Hewitt made to semis. I was thinking he will not be able to do so.

55

**Serena Deposes Venus to Take Title

Another chapter in one of sport's great stories was written today when Serena Williams defeated her sister Venus 7-6, 6-3 in 78 minutes to become Wimbledon Ladies' Champion.**

Their father, Richard, began the tome when he saw how much tennis players earned and went about producing some. Ever since Serena and Venus were born, he predicted they would become the top two players in the world.

It sounded like a fairytale but the Williams story is filed under fact not fiction. They are number one and number two in the world rankings and now they have competed in two successive Grand Slam finals.

And the pair wiped away suggestions that the emotion of being sisters prevented them from taking part in a competitive contest. They were criticised for their performances in the French Open final in Paris in which they nervously made 101 unforced errors between them.

But today's final proved they could get into the frame of mind to treat each other as fierce rivals. Serena looked more upbeat from the start as Venus, who normally smiles so widely, remained subdued and seemingly more distracted.

Second seed Serena broke her elder sister in the third game. Even though Venus, the favourite, broke straight back as Serena double faulted, the 20-year-old younger sibling broke again. Venus's first serve was erratic, with a double fault bringing up the break point for Serena.

Still Venus would not give up on the set and when Serena dumped a backhand into the net she had levelled the score at 5-5. The frustration Serena showed at losing that game showed itself as she bounced her racquet on the court. It was a sign that she wanted the title badly even if her sister and best friend was on the other side of the net.

Both sisters showed the power of their ground strokes in a series of entertaining rallies but Serena turned up the velocity in the tie-break. A forehand cross-court ground shot gave her a mini-break. Venus saved it with a screaming cross-court backhand that left Serena yelling in anger.

But a backhand down the line after Venus had volleyed off a net cord helped Serena see daylight at 5-3. A netted backhand presented her with three set points. Venus saved one but a 100mph ace gave Serena a one-set advantage.

The effort put in by both players, with Serena grunting loudly, was sustained in the second set. And the accuracy. The unforced error count totalled 47, less than half their figure at Roland Garros. Two breaks in the second set secured Serena the Venus Rosewater Dish and a £437, 630 winner's cheque.

Each sister had held serve until the sixth game. Serena got a break point when Venus double faulted for the fifth time.Then Venus planted a forehand into the net from a fierce return and Serena celebrated the break by pumping her fist. Venus got a break point in the following game when her mishit forehand from the hip landed in. But that was the last piece of any luck that was going for the 22-year-old. She may have the biggest serve in women's tennis but the weapon just wasn't enough to knock out her sister in a heavyweight encounter.

Venus doubled faulted to present her sister with a 5-3 lead. Tension was etched on Serena's face as she served for the match. She closed her eyes and puffed her cheeks to retain her composure and to block out the fact that she was trying to take her sister's title away from her. She knew it would stop Venus emulating Steffi Graf's feat in the Nineties of three Championships in a row.

But her nerve and concentration held and a service winner ensured her a third Grand Slam crown to add to the US Open she won three years ago and the French in Paris last month.

Mum Oracene stayed in her seat at the end of the match as people all around stood to acclaim her daughters. Father Richard was back in the United States as Serena and Venus sent their love via an on-court post-match interview. The Williamses are truly a remarkable family and it is a remarkable story.

56

[quote]
Originally posted by Moonstar201:
Hewitt made to semis. I was thinking he will not be able to do so.
[/quote]

So soon my prediction becomes reality.

“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."

57

*Men's Singles - Finals
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)[1] v. David Nalbandian (ARG)[28] *

Hewitt must be strong favourite to take the title but lets cheer the underdog. It is a great acheivement by the 28th seed to make it to the final.

58

Hewitt Cruises to Men's Title

Leyton Hewitt, the world number one and top seed here at Wimbledon has won the Gentlemen's Singles title with an emphatic straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over the twenty eight seed, David Nalbandian.

59

Ahhh.. This years Wimbledon Mens Final was boring.With all due respect ofcourse.

Now last Year's Final (Ivanisevic vs Rafter). That's what I call an exciting match!

60

So i was right..Hewitt won!!

“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."