New Zealand Davis Cup Opponents Confirmed For Next Weeks Tie

The Pakistan Davis Cup team for the BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Group II
semifinal against New Zealand, July 9-11 indoors at the TSB Hub in Hawera,
Taranaki has been confirmed after their top player, Aisam Qureshi was
knocked out of the Wimbledon doubles quarterfinals.

The full Pakistan team is Qureshi aged 30 who has a current ATP doubles
ranking of 42 and was ranked as high as 125 in singles, however he has now
let that slide to 1065 to concentrate solely on doubles. He won the doubles
title at Johannesburg and was a finalist at Casablanca and Nice this year.

Aqeel Khan is the number two singles player and has one ATP point for a
ranking of 1445, although he has been as high as 349 in 2004.

The two remaining players in the squad Jalil Khan and Yasir Khan have no ATP
rankings.

The New Zealand team is Rubin Statham(23) is currently ranked at 410 in
singles and 254 in doubles. Marcus Daniell, 20 is ranked at 185 in doubles
(he won the Heineken Open doubles title in January) and 650 in singles.

USA based players Michael Venus is currently ranked and Austen Childs are
new to the side. Childs, 21 was a recent singles finalist in the prestigious
NCAA competition representing the University of Louisville.

Venus, 22 was born in New Zealand but has spent most of his teenage years
living in the United States. He has a current ATP ranking of 425 in singles
and 482 in doubles.

Preparations have started with the temporary court being assembled at the
TSB Hub. The court will be ready for play on Monday. The Pakistan team are
scheduled to arrive in Auckland on Sunday.

New Zealand has a one win, one loss record against Pakistan in Davis Cup.


NEW ZEALAND v PAKISTAN
Venue: TSB Hub, Hawera, Taranaki (hard - indoors)

New Zealand
Jose Statham - 410 singles, 254 doubles
Michael Venus - 425 singles, 482 doubles
Marcus Daniell - 650 singles, 185 doubles
Austen Childs - no current ATP ranking
Captain: Marcel Vos

Pakistan
Aisam Qureshi - 1071 singles, 42 doubles
Aqeel Khan - 1448 singles, 1187 doubles
Jalil Khan - no current ATP ranking
Yasir Khan - no current ATP ranking
Captain: Rashid Ahmad Malik

The start times for the tie are: Friday 9 July - 2pm - two singles matches,
Saturday 10 July - 2pm - one doubles match, Sunday 11 July 11am reverse
singles.

Tennis NZ domestic sponsors are Slazenger, Graphix Explosion, Radio Sport,
Taranaki like no Other and Tickedirect.

Tickets are now on sale from ticketdirect www.ticketdirect.co.nz or 0800 4
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