Bangalore September 11, 2010:

Bopanna and Qureshi

Moderator: Thank you for joining us, how was the experience?
Rohan: Thank you very much, it was really good for us to play out there and it was a great atmosphere.

Q: You reached the finals but lost the entire match on tie breakers. Was it experience that counted in the tie breakers?
Rohan: Well I think Aisam and I generally play great at tie breaks, so far that’s normally been our strength, we have won a lot of matches on the ATP Circuit, but I guess today they had the upper hand they came up with good shots and important times and they had great reflexes that’s what made the difference, that was the only thing, the experience dint really matter that much.

Q: How big was the fact that you’d beaten them before, in your head before the final?
Aisam: Obviously it was a great advantage to us having beaten them only a month before, we are the only team to have beaten them the entire hard court season so that was a big motivator obviously, we kept telling each other to keep trying and play our hearts out, we did that, but today that wasn’t good enough against the greatest doubles team in history. They played the big points really well and so all credit goes to them.

Q: You guys have had a rocking year so far. While there was never any doubt on your potential, what is that which has clicked for you?
Rohan: Well i think by far the most important thing is that we believe in ourselves and we believe in each other, we know that we can stay with the big teams at the big tournaments; we know we can compete and beating tough opponents at this level is a great confidence booster. The last two weeks have been great, I mean we took out the no.2 seeds, the no.10 seeds played a close semi-final so I guess we know that if we stick to our game and play to our strength we can beat anybody across the net.

Q:You have won 2 doubles Tour events but have lost 10 finals over the years, including 5 with Aisam. Do you think learning from your mistakes during those losses, played a crucial part in today’s match?
Aisam: Yeah I think every loss make you stronger, I mean they say what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, so this has been a great learning experience for us as a team. To push the best team in the world all the way in a Grand Slam Final is a huge achievement for us and to lose on tie-breaks by a few points proves that we can compete with the best. We started taking doubles seriously only this year, the Bryans have been playing together for years, so I would say to push them all the way in our maiden final is a great achievement. I hope Inshaallah, the Indo-Pak Express keeps rolling on with many more victories.

Q:You’ll had trouble converting break points in set 2? What went wrong?Was it windy?
Rohan:  I mean nothing went wrong, they played good points, served well and came up with good shots at crucial moments in the game. The wind was there throughout the two weeks, so to say it was a major factor today would be wrong, because all of us have been dealing with it the entire tournament. They played better at crucial moments, so nothing really went wrong, I mean we tried hard, our level best, all credit goes to them for pulling off the big shots at the right time.

Q:What do you feel was the turning point, if any, during the match?
Aisam: Well I don’t think there was any turning point, the match could have gone either way on so many occasions, most of the big points were closely fought, especially in the tie-breaks, it could have gone either way, expect for one or two points I think we matched them really well. I think it was pretty equal on court and no one hand the upper hand.

Q. From your game today, what positives will you be carrying home and what are the areas you think you need to work on?
Aisam: Basically the whole experience was unforgettable, we have to now believe that we can beat the top teams, with wins against some of the top 10 teams this hard court season, beating the Bryans in Washington, we have a lot of positives to take. No negatives as such, being our first finals and pushing the Bryans all the way I think the credit goes to us! You know, if we keep working hard individually and as a team, believing in each other, playing our game, sticking to our strengths, I don’t see any reason why we can’t be world no.1 some day.

Q: Both your Tour wins have been on hard courts. Besides that, you have also reached 7 other hard court event finals (incl US Open). Are hard-courts slowly replacing your favourite grass surface?
Rohan: Well the grass season is too short, with only 4 weeks in the whole year, majority of the tournaments are on hard courts or clay courts. So you know it’s very tough to say hard courts have replaced grass as our favourite. I guess we need a longer season on grass to make a fair comparison. Right now we play a lot on hard courts and I guess its really suiting our game.

Q: For Aisam: You made a couple of records today, only Pakistani in a grand slam, only Pakistani in top-50. How has the reaction been back home, what have your parents’ been telling you?
Aisam: To be honest I haven’t had time to talk to anybody yet, have been so busy dealing with press people around the world, you guys are getting top priorities! Pakistan is going through a very dark time right now, with the terrorist attacks, floods, cricket controversies, I really hope that my performance here bring some good news back home. I really don know how people are reacting back home, I guess when I go back I will know. But I must really thank Rohan for being with me throughout these 2 weeks, and helping me in my cause. I hope Inshaallah when I go back home the receptions is good.

Q: The sporting ties between India and Pakistan have been strained post Mumbai attack. How important do you weigh your performance in this context?
Rohan: Well I mean this is obviously right up there, has to be one of our best moments ever.

Q: Would it be right to make this achievement as a political statement?
Rohan: No absolutely not, we are not here to make any statement, we just love to play tennis and we are pursuing our careers, obviously its wonderful being ambassadors of Peace and Sport and spreading that message through our Tennis is great. There is nothing else though; we are not here to make political statements.

Q: For Aisam: With the growing strain between the two nations to the extent that Pak players were shunned from IPL auctions this time, it is refreshing to see your partnership. You think through your partnership a new perspective could be brought into sports in these two countries?
Aisam: I hope people take it in a positive way; no politics or religion should ever come in sports. I feel Cricket is affected because of the strong political aspect to it. Both countries have cricket loving people and only political reasons are stopping the teams from not playing each other. I remember when India toured Pakistan, they had great support, the atmosphere was unbelievable. I really hope the governments keep political aspects out of the games.

Q: For Rohan: Have Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi been inspirations?
Rohan: Yes I mean of course they are great ambassadors for India, and for me when I started early in the Davis cup they were always role models, they have been here at this level won many Grand Slams between them and among them so their support is something to look forward to. I really hope we can carry forward what they have given us.

Q:How do you plan to celebrate your best showing in a Grand Slam? And what’s your game plan for the rest of the season?
Rohan: Well I mean we are in New York tonight so we will be celebrating; Aisam’s coach told us that if you win the last point it would be party time. Unfortunately we din’t win the last point, but its still a great thing to have made it this far and we will definitely celebrate. We have not planned anything yet but we will celebrate tonight for sure.

Q: You made a bet with your trainer about shaving your head if you reached the quarters at Wimbledon to motivate you. Have you got anything like that in mind for future tournaments, perhaps the Australian Open?
Rohan: Well actually there was no new bets made, but I do remember he said if we do make the Finals of a Grand Slam he would taste non-vegetarian. He is a vegetarian, so I will definitely hold him to that.

Q:Now that you’ve made it to the finals of a Grand Slam what other targets have you set for yourself in terms of titles, rankings for the next year?
Rohan: Well right now we the top 8 Masters Barclays Open in London, that’s our goal to make it there and compete with the best, and after making the Finals it gives us a great shot at being there, we have Shanghai Masters which is the next tournament in three weeks times. So hopefully we will continue performing and doing well getting titles for our countries.

Q: For Rohan: Around the corner, you will be playing at the Davis cup. How do you rate the Brazilian team?
Rohan: Obviously it will be great having a home tie in 2 years. Brazil is going be to be a tough nation for sure they compete well. I hope I can get some singles practice considering I have been playing doubles for so long. I will be back in India on Sunday night in Chennai, I will start practicing from Monday morning, and hopefully bring India back into the world group.

Q: The two of you are going to be facing each other at the CWG. How is going to feel playing against someone whose strengths you know so well, and who is your best friend on tour?
Aisam: Its not going to be easy, I hope we don’t get drawn against each other in the same pool, but we are professionals, we know that we will both try our best for our country and give it our all. That is part of Tennis, but this will not cause any differences between us as a team or as friends.

Q: We noticed amongst a packed stadium, Rohan, your parents were in the crowd. How was it to have them court side?
Rohan: I mean it’s a very proud moment to have them on court side, it was fanatstic, at first I dint think they would make it, I called them up and when they checked their passports they had a 10 year visa, so I told them that they have to be here. They landed this morning and came straight away. My dad looked very calm, I mean I am sure he was nervous but during the big points I would look up and when everyone was jumping he was in his seat calm as ever, trying to stay focused for us, and I am really glad that they all made it here my family and friends.

Q: Rohan and Aisam, could you evaluate each others strengths?
Rohan: Asiam volleys really well, that really compliments my big shot from the baseline as he covers the net really well.

Aisam: Rohan’s dance moves are tough to match. Unfortunately you can’t watch him on the phone, he is really good! He’s got one of the biggest forehands and a huge serve that always intimidates the opposition. Robert Davis my coach calls us Lightening and Thunder.

Q: Everyone wants to know, post all the pictures, what were you talking to the ambassadors from the UN about?
Rohan: I mean we are just thankful they came out for us, they encouraged us and were very appreciative towards our efforts, they took time out to watch us in the Semi’s and the Finals and they sat together and cheered for us which is great, unfortunately we couldn’t win today.

Q: Closing this evening, Aisam and Rohan, any special people out there you would like to thank?
Rohan: I would like to thank all my family and friends, all those people from Pakistan and India supporting us these past two weeks, I thank everyone for helping me out but most importantly I would like to thank Aisam for playing with me and sticking with me we have had a great year together.

Aisam: He dint leave anyone left for me to thank, he covered pretty much everyone. But I must thank my parents, brother, sister for supporting me throughout my career. People in Pakistan and India for supporting us, the media for all their attention my coach Robert Davis for putting up with me, actually I put up with him and everyone generally. But I must thank Rohan for sticking by me when I needed him the most and for playing with me and helping me with my cause and helping me to send some positive news to people back home in Pakistan and making them smile.