WIMBLEDON

July 1, 2002

Amir Hadad

MODERATOR: Questions.

AMIR HADAD: It was very good. We start in the qualifying. We qualify two rounds. We were four match points down in the last round. We won two matches in the main draw. We had a tough one today, but I'm very happy for Aisam, also for myself. Think we played good. We proved that we are in this level.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: It's been unbelievable. It's like first time I qualified for a Grand Slam, first time Pakistani made it so far, whether singles or doubles. It's been almost like a dream. I played it three years ago in Juniors. Very, very happy to be back. Really happy to play with him also. Probably wouldn't have happened without him. You know, it's been a great experience.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: I know him from two, three years. We've been on the same circuit playing challengers and stuff, but we actually never played together. We just decided during the qualifying to play together this time. We weren't actually sure we were going to get in the qualifying. Somehow we did, and here we are now.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: But there was some positive, also. There's going to be negative and positive. But nobody has contact me yet, so I can't say anything about it, you know. I'm going to go home after two months. We see what happens.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: I would like to. Why not?

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: Actually, we were just talking about it.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: Why not. It's first time made it to the main draw of a Grand Slam with him. I played pretty well also. So, yeah, I wouldn't mind, for sure. Actually, I don't like to interfere religion or politics into sports. You can't do this, you know. Have to keep sport as a sport and just enjoy it.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: Actually, when I started, I never even thought it was going to become such a big thing. Actually, we're not here to change anything; politicians and governments do that. We're just here to play the game and enjoy it. But if everybody takes it a positive way, yeah, I'll take it. Why not?

AMIR HADAD: I mean, like Aisam says, we came to play tennis. When he asked me to play, we didn't even think it's going to get so big. There is some people that maybe want to make some headlines, say bad things about this. But I see it only positive that two guys from different nationality can play together. We are good friends, and I think we're going to keep playing together in the future.

AMIR HADAD: No, not really. We're here for the sport. We're here to improve our ranking, to make some money.

AMIR HADAD: Never, no.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: He's got his girlfriend here. I'm not having most of the dinners with him, no. Probably, yeah.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: No. We've been to dinners, but don't talk about sex actually. But I am not a political person. I don't like politics, actually. He never talks to me about it. But I read papers and stuff, but I'm not really into politics, though.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: In smaller events, Futures and stuff. I know all the Israelis on the tour.

AMIR HADAD: And we all like him. We have no problem with him.

AMIR HADAD: Yeah, but only positive. I read also in the Internet, all the website. They actually called me a few reporter, and they all say in a positive way that we can play together, and we doing so well.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: As I said, we are not here to change anything. Nobody has contacted me from Pakistan. I just read it on the Internet and he told me. I was a bit shocked. I don't know, if someone contacts -- last night a reporter called me from Pakistan. But he said all the media is backing me up. That's the most positive thing I have just heard.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: It's tough to say. I don't -- I don't really know how to answer it actually.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: That's their own loss. If they want to stay in Group II or lower levels, fine. I'm going to stay for them and play for them. If I believe I could do well with Amir in the big events, Grand Slams, I'll stay and play with him. Why not?

AMIR HADAD: I mean, like I said before, I mean, doesn't matter where we came from. I mean, we are tennis player, we are here to play, to improve the ranking. And I think if something good can come out of it, it's even better.

AMIR HADAD: No, I mean, today it was different condition, it was a little bit windy, little bit cold. Took us I think a set and a half to warm up. Then we start playing better. But against these players, it's tough. You have to be ready, you have to play good from the beginning of the match. You can't just come in the last set and try to play good and win the match. I mean, they are very experienced players. They took the chance. But we can learn from this and hope in US Open we can go one level more.

AMIR HADAD: I mean, we know each other for long, long time. I know Aisam is very good on grass, have good serve, good volley. I pick him up only because his talent and his skills in tennis. And I also like him as a person. It's always fun, you know, to be with somebody that you like on the court. We have fun together, and that's it. I think this combination, you know, lead us to where we are now.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: That's a good question. Depends. For me, it's very tough to be as religious as I want to be. Tough to pray five times a day. I try to do, be as religious as possible. But sports, it's tough. You have to find a happy medium between that, I think.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: When I'm away from home, it's very tough for me. When I get home, I try to do. But my parents don't want to because it's a very big weight problem. They don't want me to lose a lot of weight (laughter).

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: Till now?

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: I am. There is no one with world ranking. I am the only one in the world ranking.

AMIR HADAD: I mean, I'm trying as much as I can to keep my religion, like about the food, to eat kosher food. But it's very tough when you travel all over the world. You have different food. When you have matches, you have to eat properly before the match. I mean, for me, I don't pray at all, but I practice a lot... Hopefully when I quit tennis, I try to maybe do little bit more.

AMIR HADAD: I mean, you always see the news. It's always sad to see, you know, people get killed for nothing. But we trying to stay positive all the time. Maybe it's going to be good in the future. Hopefully it's going to be good.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: My whole family is Lahore, Pakistan, but I practice in Amsterdam. My coach is from Holland.

AMIR HADAD: I live in Ramla, Israel.

AMIR HADAD: Close to Tel Aviv.

AMIR HADAD: No, not yet. Hopefully not.

AMIR HADAD: Hopefully now they going to see and give me some car.

AISAM-UL-HAQ QURESHI: I don't have a sponsor.

AMIR HADAD: No, because there is no Palestinian player. Not yet. Maybe in the future.