Amagnificent and deeply moving farewell for Pakistan’s tennis maestro Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi became the emotional centrepiece of the ceremony at the Pakistan Tennis Federation Complex in Islamabad, setting a dignified tone ahead of the country’s first-ever ATP Challenger.

For a brief second, time seemed to pause. The applause shifted from celebratory to reverent. What began as Pakistan’s proud step onto the global tennis map instantly became something larger, a tribute to the greatest tennis ambassador the country has ever produced.

Aisam’s journey never relied on privilege, glamour, or shortcuts. It began in 1997 on a modest grass court in Lahore, far from the attention of the sporting world.

He was just a determined boy with a borrowed dream and a mother who believed in him with unshakable conviction. Two years later, he found himself competing in the British Satellite circuit, alone, unknown, fighting through cold weather, unfamiliar courts, and tougher opponents. Those early struggles forged the resilience that would ultimately define him.

From there, Aisam’s rise became the stuff of sporting folklore in Pakistan. His singles breakthrough included the unforgettable victory over America’s World No. 3 Mardy Fish in Newport, an upset that remains one of Pakistan’s most iconic tennis wins. In doubles, his run was even more spectacular. Defeating Roger Federer’s team in Basel in 2009, sharing friendships and courts with global icons like Federer and Martina Navratilova, and becoming a regular face on the ATP Tour, all while carrying Pakistan’s flag with dignity, turned him into a symbol of national pride.

But the most emotional moment of his farewell was not about trophies. It was his tribute to the people who built him. His voice softened when he thanked Allah and paid homage to his parents, acknowledging that every triumph was rooted in their sacrifices, belief, and patience. He reminisced about how his lifelong coach, Haseeb Aslam, initially refused to train him and ultimately relented only due to his mother’s persistence, proof that behind every superstar, there is an unseen story of relentless love.

He also extended heartfelt gratitude to coaches Rashid Malik, M. Khalid, Mehboob Khan, Mr. Ashiq, Sean Cole, Nick Cart, Mark, and Robert Davis, mentors who sharpened his technical edges, strengthened his discipline, and carried him through the peaks and valleys of a career spanning more than two decades.

Aisam’s legacy is etched in numbers that no Pakistani tennis player has matched: finalist in the men’s and mixed doubles at the 2010 US Open, a career-high singles ranking of 125, a doubles ranking of World No. 8 in 2011, and four appearances at the ATP Finals. His partnership with India’s Rohan Bopanna, the celebrated “Indo-Pak Express”, became a global message of unity, culminating in their “Stop War, Start Tennis” campaign. Few athletes worldwide have earned the ATP’s Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award twice; Aisam is among those rare few.

His Davis Cup service remains unparalleled. Over more than 20 years, he battled tirelessly for Pakistan, helping the team reach the World Group Playoffs in 2005, one of the shining milestones in the nation’s tennis history.

Even in the twilight of his career, he continued to deliver. Partnering with ACTIVIT in 2025 as an official athlete and ambassador, he won two gold medals at the ITF Masters 45+ World Championship in Turkey. He openly acknowledged the 360-degree support provided by ACTIVIT and its CEO Rd. Rizwan Aftab Ahmed, medical, nutritional, and financial, during a crucial phase of his final active year.

And yet, destiny scripted the perfect farewell. The very night he inaugurated Pakistan’s first ATP Challenger, an achievement he had envisioned and fought for as President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, also became the night he walked away from professional tennis. With a half-tearful smile, he admitted he wasn’t sure whether he was more emotional about his retirement or the fulfilment of a national dream. But this turning point is not an ending. It is a renewal.

Aisam now pledges to become a better President than he ever was a player, an audacious goal for someone who reached the sport’s global elite. He envisions a future in which Pakistani players break onto Grand Slam stages, where the country hosts multiple international events annually, and where young athletes finally receive the opportunities and pathways he was denied. It is a mission grounded in experience, credibility, and a lifelong love for the game.

As he walked off the court, the applause that followed him was long, warm, and historic. It was the sound of a nation honouring not just a champion, but an institution. Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi may have retired from the court, but his legacy, now evolving into leadership, has only just begun.

–Sarfraz Ahmed