The Hindu : Sport : Bopanna, Qureshi get award

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Bopanna, Qureshi get award

- PHOTO: AFP

MEMORABLE DAY: Rohan Bopanna (left) and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi with the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Of The Year award.

LONDON: Their message of ‘Stop War Start Tennis' fetched Indian Davis Cupper Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Of The Year award during the ATP World Tour Finals here.

The two players have been playing with the message of ‘Stop War Start Tennis' for quite some time on the Tour and in Grand Slams.

They rose to prominence by reaching the final of the US Open where they ended runners-up to the legendary Mike and Bob Bryan.

While Qureshi has received this award in the past as well when he teamed up with Israel's Amir Hadad in 2002, it's a first for Bopanna.

“It's a great feeling to be here and presented with this award from our peers and the ATP. I would like to thank my family, friends and Aisam. It's been an emotional and unbelievable year for us. I want to applaud the courage and determination of the people in India. I hope this award brings reassurance of peace back home,” Bopanna said.

Qureshi said: “It's a great feeling and I'd like to thank the ATP for giving us this platform to spread the message of peace throughout the world. For me, it is an unbelievably proud moment.

“To be on the same list as Andre Agassi, Stefan Edberg and Nelson Mandela is a terrific honour. We have had a great year and given a positive message about peace through our partnership and off the court. I am very happy to have won with my best friend on tour,” he added.

Djokovic in semifinals

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic set up a semifinal clash against Roger Federer at the ATP World Tour Finals after a crushing 6-2, 6-3 victory over Andy Roddick on Friday.

After Rafael Nadal's straight sets victory against Tomas Berdych earlier, Djokovic walked onto court at London's O2 Arena knowing he needed just one set to guarantee his place in the last four of the prestigious end-of-year event.

He achieved that aim in just 31 minutes, securing his second victory in three matches with a dominant second set.

Bhupathi-Mirnyi in

last four

Mahesh Bhupathi and Max Mirnyi sealed a semifinal place in the doubles for the first time in their career after beating Wesley Moodie and Dick Norman 6-4, 6-4 to grab the last available spot.

They had qualified for the season-ending finale after six years and have cleared the round-robin stage for the first time, having failed in 2003 and 2004. They ended runners-up in Group ‘B' and will take on Group ‘A' winners Mariusz Fyrstenberg and Marcin Matkowski of Poland in the fight for the final. In the second semifinal, defending champions and American twins Bob and Mike Bryan will meet the winners of Group ‘B', Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjic.

Bhupathi conceded the Pole pair is tough to beat but exuded confidence of maintaining supremacy over them. “They are obviously playing their best tennis of the year. They won the group, but we've beaten them every time we've played them this season. It's going to be a good game. The atmosphere (at the O2) is awesome; every day we can stay alive in this tournament it's a bonus for us. Hopefully we can keep going till the weekend is over,” he said. Bhupathi and Mirnyi drew first blood with a break of serve in the third game. Bhupathi hit a return winner off the Moodie serve, which the crossing Norman could not reach. Untroubled on serve, the third seeds went on to seal the first set with a hold to 15 by Mirnyi in the 10th game.

The results: Group A: Novak Djokovic bt Andy Roddick 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles: Group B: Mahesh Bhupathi & Max Mirnyi bt Wesley Moodie & Dick Norman 6-4, 6-4 . — Agencies

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