Pakistan were all square with Taiwan after the opening day's singles in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group I second round tie on Friday, with a shot at the competition's elite World Group at stake. Pakistan's ace Aisamul Haq overpowered Wang Yeu-Tzuoo of Taiwan 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 in an hour and 35 minutes to give Pakistan the lead in the tie played here.
But Taiwan levelled when their number one player Lu Yen-Hsun upstaged Pakistan number two Aqeel Khan 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) after a hard fought second singles match.
"I have grown in confidence after winning three golds in the Islamic Games. Since the Taiwanese players are not so good on grass it gave me an edge," Haq said after the match.
Haq, who shocked Thai ace Paradorn Srichapan to clinch the first-round tie in March and who won three gold medals in the Islamic Games in Saudi Arabia this month, served and volleyed better than his opponent during his comfortable win.
However Haq's long time colleague Khan could not cope with the fast paced game of Lu, who overcame a sluggish start to win in four sets.
"At the start I was not comfortable but after the second strike I fully adjusted and forced some errors on my opponent which helped me win the match," Lu said.
"Now in the doubles we will do our best because we think (the) doubles game can guarantee us an overall win."
Wang blamed the grass court and hot weather for his defeat, but also said he admired his opponent.
"I had to combat the heat, a good opponent and the grass court, in which I failed and lost," Wang said.
Haq and Khan were drawn to meet Lu and Wang in the crucial doubles match on Saturday before reverse singles on Sunday in the tie, the winner of which will have a shot at making the elite World Group at a play-off in July.
Neither Pakistan nor Taiwan has qualified for the World Group before.
Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Chile, Sweden, Belarus, the United States, Germany and Great Britain, who are confirmed for the play-offs, will be joined by a further six teams following the completion of Group I ties this weekend.
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