Bopanna-Qureshi set to return as doubles pair in Acapulco 2021

Bopanna and Qureshi, known as the 'Indo-Pak Express' last won a title as a pair in 2014 at the Dubai Open.

Published : Mar 02, 2021 17:10 IST

Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi are looking forward to playing together for the first time since 2014.

The chance to get a wild card as former champions in Dubai united Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, but their destination has changed to Acapulco, Mexico.

Quite relieved to be back home after weeks of inaction, the 40-year-old Bopanna said that he had talked to Aisam in Australia in setting up a temporary partnership.

"We asked for a wild card for Dubai, and our second option was Acapulco. Eventually, we didn’t want to take the risk of waiting for the wild card as it is hard for the organisers to commit in advance, owing to much demand. We are literally the last team entering in Acapulco. So, we decided to take it," said Bopanna.

With Bopanna ranked 40 and Aisam 49, it is hard for them to get into the big events. That forces them to plan literally week by week. The Dubai event has $2,048,855 prize money, while Acapulco has $1,204,960.

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Interestingly, Bopanna’s coach Scott Davidoff is already in Dubai. Bopanna had also planned to take his family to Dubai and be with them till he gets into the tournament bubble. Now, the travel logistics have to be reworked, keeping in mind all the covid protocols in different countries.

After Acapulco, Bopanna will be playing Miami. The Indian Wells event, prior to Miami, is not being held this time.

"I may still go to Dubai now, with family. I have to plan with my wife," said Bopanna. The tournaments in Dubai and Acapulco are scheduled for the third week of the month.

 

Doubles Entries (Acapulco 2021)

Seed

Names

RK

ER

1

Marcel Granollers/ Horacio Zeballos

17

17

2

Jamie Murray/ Bruno Soares

24

24

3

Pierre-Hugues Herbert/ Nicolas Mahut

29

29

4

Rajeev Ram/ Joe Salisbury

32

32

 

Raven Klassen/ Ben McLachlan

69

69

 

Austin Krajicek/ Franco Skugor

74

74

 

Ken Skupski/ Neal Skupski

88

88

 

Rohan Bopanna/ Aisam-ul-Haq-Qureshi

89

89

 

Diego Schwartzmann/ Joao Sousa

128

84

 

Marin Cilic/ Oliver Marach

324

70

 

Felix Auger-Aliassima/ Milos Raonic

481

34

 

Laslo Djere/ Benoit Paire

618

89

 

Grigor Dimitrov/ Tommy Paul

1003

73

 

(WC)

-

 

 

(WC)

-

 

 

(Q)

-