Aisam, Mergea win Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters

KARACHI: Pakistan’s tennis ace Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and his Romanian partner Florin Mergea won the ATP-500 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in Monaco on Sunday.

The unseeded Aisam and Florin, ranked 23rd and 31st, respectively, showed excellent performance throughout the event, beating top seeded players.

In the final of men’s doubles, they defeated Philipp Petzschner from Germany and Alexander

Peya from Austria 6-4, 6-3 to win their first ATP World Tour doubles title.

It is worth adding here that Aisam and Florin have teamed up only four times on ATP World Tour.

“I couldn’t be more happy. I’ve been working really hard, and I know he’s a really hard worker,” Qureshi said. “There’s so much history in this club, and it’s great to be a part of it, to win a title here. Hopefully we can come back and win another title in this beautiful city.”

Mergea and Qureshi saved all nine break points faced and converted half of their break opportunities.

“I think the whole tournament, we played the big points really well,” Qureshi said.

Mergea and Qureshi dropped only one set all week, in the semi-finals, when they beat Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau 6-3, 5-7, 14-12.

Mergea and Qureshi also knocked off top seeds Henri Kontinen and John Peers in the quarter-finals.

“For me it’s my first time here and it’s been a privilege to play in this club, and I’m looking forward to coming back here,” Mergea said.

Barcelona is only the fourth ATP World Tour tournament Mergea and Qureshi have played together. Their previous best result was the semi-finals at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech two weeks ago.

Mergea improved to 7-8 in doubles finals; Qureshi to 13-16. They will receive 500 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and split €150,780 in prize money.