The dynamics of a lop-sided sports contest are often revealed in the way the two parties look at it.
India are treating the Davis Cup match against Pakistan as just another tie. For Pakistan, though, it's a dream contest, a golden chance beat their big brothers from across the border on home turf.
"Ever since I started playing Davis Cup it's been a dream to play against India," Aisam Qureshi, Pakistan's number one player, told rediff.com from Lahore. "It is going to be a lifetime experience for us."
Pakistan arrive in Mumbai on Monday facing a 0-5 head-to-head deficit against India. While the hosts have four players to choose from for only the singles matches, Pakistan are resting all their hopes in Qureshi and Aqeel Khan, who have been instrumental in keeping them in Group I of the Asia-Oceania Zone since 2000.
Though Qureshi and Khan are both accomplished Davis Cup players and a lot more experienced than India's first-choice singles duo of Prakash Amritraj and Rohan Bopanna, India start as the favourites for the tie.
"I think we always start as underdogs. It's always been like that, whether we play India or Thailand or Taiwan. Most of the players in Asia are ranked ahead of us, but world rankings don't matter when you are playing Davis Cup. Aqeel and I will be looking to improve our performance. He has had some good wins on grass and it's my favourite surface too."
| |||||||||||
"There is always pressure on us. Me and Aqeel have been doing it for the last 7-8 years now. The team is counting on us this time too. I will try to do my job; there will always be expectations from me but Davis Cup is not a one-man show. To win over three days we will have to perform as a team.
"Definitely, India have the advantage; they will start the tie 1-0 up, because it's going to be almost impossible to beat Leander-Mahesh in doubles. We are realistic about our chances against them. That's why I will concentrating on the singles. We will be looking at Aqeel to win one of the singles to pull us through."
Last year, Qureshi won all his matches in the group stage to help Pakistan beat Thailand 3-2 and Chinese Taipei 4-1 and qualify for the World Group play-offs for the first time. His victories include one over Thai and Asia No. 1 Paradon Srichaphan in four sets.
"We did well last year. This year too we gave our hundred per cent. It is somewhat disapponting that we lost in the first round, but winning and losing are a part of the game. It was always going to be difficult against Chinese Taipei in an away tie. But losing there was a blessing in disguise since we got to play against India."
The April 7-9 tie will be played at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai and the heat and humidity will play a big part. But Qureshi is confident that his team is ready to counter the conditions as well as the Indian players.
"I joined the camp on Monday (March 27), but the team has been practicing on grass courts for two weeks now. It is very hot in Lahore also; the temperature was about 35 degrees today (Saturday).
"I was playing a few future tournaments and club matches in Germany. Am feeling pretty good so are the rest of the players. We are happy with the fitness of the team; everybody's ready for India."
