Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi holds the distinction of being the only tennis player from Pakistan to reach a Grand Slam final, achieving the feat in both men's and mixed doubles at the 2010 US Open. Born in Lahore in 1980, he emerged from a sporting family to become the most successful Davis Cup player in his nation's history.

Early Development and Junior Success

Raised in Lahore, Qureshi grew up engaging in swimming, football, and cricket before turning to tennis at age 14. His introduction to the sport was guided by his maternal grandfather, Khawaja Iftikhar Ahmed, a former 10-time national champion. His mother, Nosheen Ihtsham, was also a former women’s champion. By age 16, Qureshi was sponsored by the International Tennis Federation. His junior career included victories at the Casablanca Cup in Mexico and the LTA International Junior Championships in Roehampton, where he defeated opponents such as Andy Roddick and Taylor Dent. He finished 1998 as the world number seven junior player.

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Professional Doubles and Grand Slam Career

Qureshi turned professional in 1998 and built a career centered on doubles competition. Alongside Rohan Bopanna, he reached the 2010 US Open men's doubles final, and with Květa Peschke, he contested the mixed doubles final the same year. He reached a career-high doubles ranking of world number eight in June 2011. Over his professional tenure, he secured 18 ATP Tour titles, including the 2011 Paris Masters and the 2013 Miami Open. He qualified for the ATP Finals in doubles on three separate occasions before retiring from the ATP Tour in November 2025.

Davis Cup and National Leadership

Since making his Davis Cup debut in 1998, Qureshi has established himself as the most prolific winner for Pakistan in the competition. He served as the team's captain starting in 2022 and maintains his membership on the squad. During his tenure, the team famously reached the World Group play-offs in 2005. Beyond individual performance, Qureshi has contributed to the domestic infrastructure of the sport, including launching a national talent-hunting program and assuming the presidency of the Pakistan Tennis Federation in February 2024.

Humanitarian Engagement

Qureshi is active in international advocacy, notably through the 'Stop War Start Tennis' campaign, which aimed to facilitate a match on the border of India and Pakistan. He was named a United Nations Development Program goodwill ambassador in 2010 and joined the 'Champions for Peace' club. His efforts earned him the 2010 Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award, shared with Bopanna, and the 'Peace and Sport Image of the Year' award.