New Delhi: Two years after breaking their highly successful pairing, Indian tennis star Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan's Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi have decided to reunite for the 2014 season. The two last played together in the ATP World Tour Final in London in 2011 and have joined forces for a second stint with the aim of repeating and furthering their past exploits.
The duo split in 2011 after the World Tour final in London when Bopanna decided to partner Mahesh Bhupathi due his debut appearance for the 2012 London Olympics. Speaking on renewing his partnership with Aisam, an excited Rohan said, "It's always a delight to partner with an old friend and specially someone with whom I have a great understanding with, on and off the court."
"I've always felt that we have a complementary playing style and the experience that we have playing with each other is an added advantage."
Bopanna has had quite an eventful year, reaching a career high of third in the ATP Rankings in July post his successful stint at Wimbledon, making a semi-final appearance for the first time with Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
Bopanna is currently ranked fifth in the ATP World Rankings.
The Indo-Pak duo enjoyed a blistering run during their partnership which began in 2007. Together, they reached the final of the 2010 US Open, they won the ATP World Tour Master's 1000 title in Paris the next year, and in the process, qualified for the ATP World Tour Final in London in 2011 as they broke into the top 10 in the world rankings.
The pair reached their first ATP career doubles final in 2007 at the Kingfisher Airlines Tennis Open in Mumbai where they finished runners-up. They had to wait until 2011 to win their first ATP doubles title at the Johannesburg Open.
In 2011, the two were awarded with the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year Award for their 'Stop War Start Tennis campaign'.
They were also nominated as 'Champions for Peace' by the Monaco based organisation Peace and Sport. Aisam's nomination to this league is supported by his choice of partners, such as Amir Hadad of Israel and Rohan Bopanna of India.
Aisam first won the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award along with Amir Hadad in 2002 for their partnership despite protests from their opposing communities. Qureshi has played the entire season with Dutchman Jean Julien-Rojer. They did not enjoy a very good season apart from a title at Miami Masters.
The 31-year-old, at the time of his split with Bopanna, had stated that he was shocked by the Indian's decision to go his separate way but respected it nonetheless.
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