Far from the social and political turmoil in Pakistan, the country's sole tennis star Aisam Qureshi is trying to keep his mind off the 'sad' situation back home and concentrate on his season ahead.
Qureshi, who had his best year as pro in 2007, had his plans thrown off as he was forced to reschedule his arrival at the Chennai Open following the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Qureshi had to miss out on the singles qualifying and did not have a doubles partner to choose from.
"What happened is really sad, no one was expecting it," says Qureshi. "The situation in Lahore [from where he hails] is a little better than Karachi, because she [Bhutto] was from Karachi. But as far as I know everything is shut down schools, colleges."
"I could not get here on time for the singles qualifiers because nothing was working. I was lucky I got my 8:30 [pm] flight also because everything was shut down till six in the evening. I got the visa only on 27th and could not commit to any doubles partner since it could've spoiled their chances."
Having missed out on a singles berth, Qureshi will attempt to do better in the doubles with Croatia's Marin Cilic, with whom he is teaming up for the first time.
"I came to Chennai to get some matches under my belt before going to Australia [for the Australian Open]."
Ranked 125 in the world currently, Qureshi is hoping to make a cut in the main draw. But with the Australian Open boasting of the strongest field ever as 97 of the top-100 players have confirmed for the Grand Slams the Pakistani might find the going tough.
Coming from Pakistan has also meant that the player hasn't got any freebies on his journey in top-flight tennis.
"It's there all the time and I have to deal with it. I've hardly received any wildcards and no help to make it to the top. But it's more satisfying to get where I am today even though it has taken me nine years. I am just happy to be playing on the ATP tour and the Grand Slams and make most of the opportunities I've got."
Even though the world around has threatened to go intolerant, Qureshi, who was once pulled up by his federation for partnering Israeli Amir Hadad, has kept a sense of balance and realize in dreams in faraway Europe or 'neighbours' India.
It was back in 2001, while playing a Futures event, when he faced a minor threat from groups in Mumbai. His family had requested the media not to print his photographs to ward off further trouble.
But since, he has been a popular player in India and the country has been kind to the 27-year-old. He won his first Challenger event in New Delhi last month and reached his first ATP finals when he and India's top player Rohan Bopanna made it to the doubles final in Mumbai in October .
