CHANDIGARH: Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan found India a lucky venue once again and redeemed his career with yet another title in the Microsoft $10,000 ITF Futures tennis tournament at the CLTA Complex here on Friday.

The 25-year-old Pakistani, who has won two Futures titles in Delhi in the past, beat Frank Moser of Germany 7-6(6), 6-7(5), 6-4 in a pulsating final that lasted nearly three hours.

In a season in which he was ranked as high as 170, beat Paradorn Srichaphan in Davis Cup and also had to endure 15 first round eliminations in tournaments around the world, Qureshi was happy to get back to winning ways. His joy was understandable after clinching the title and he knelt down to kiss the synthetic surface.

Experience to the fore

It was Qureshi's all-round game and rich experience in the Challenger league that bailed him out of trouble against a big-serving and determined opponent. He was exceptionally good with his volleys in the third set, as he pushed his aching body for a final flourish.

Moser served 17 aces, five more than Qureshi, but lacked the big-match temperament to test the Pakistani. The German had lost to Qureshi four times earlier and was unable to change the script.

Qureshi thanked his coach Robert Davis, who has stuck with him through the highs and lows, and vowed to break into the top-150 in the next season. He had been out of action for nearly three months, following a strained shoulder after the Davis Cup World Group play-off against Chile, and was naturally thrilled to win five matches on the trot.

Qureshi collected $1,300 and 12 ATP points, while the runner-up gathered $900 and eight points.

Double blow

It turned out to be a double disappointment for Moser as he and Vishaal Uppal went down in straight sets to Karan Rastogi and Ashutosh Singh. Uppal was broken in the second game of the second set and that proved decisive.

It was the first crown in two finals for Karan and the second Futures title for Ashutosh from four finals. Ashutosh has doing well in the Satellite circuit.

The doubles winners collected 12 ATP points each and shared $630, while the runners-up pocketed eight points each and split $330.

The results (finals):

Singles: Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi (Pak) bt Frank Moser (Ger) 7-6(6), 6-7(5), 6-4.

Doubles: Ashutosh Singh-Karan Rastogi bt Frank Moser (Ger)-Vishaal Uppal 7-6(5), 6-3.

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