F.P. Report
KARACHI: Former Pakistan tennis great Khwaja Saeed Hai away in Karachi after protracted illness. Hai was a former Pakistan No. 1 tennis player, and the first Pakistani tennis player to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam through qualifying matches. He featured in the main draw of the Wimbledon Championships in 1955 and 1956, and reached the second round of the French Open. He also played in the U.S. Open in 1964 and played in the Davis Cup for Pakistan.
He was born on March 5, 1930 in British India. He studied at the Aligarh Muslim University where he also honed his skills. In Wimbledon, he played men’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles.
Apart from playing in the Davis Cup, he has captained Pakistan’s Davis Cup team 32 times. When the French Tennis Federation celebrated 100 years of French Championship at Roland Garros, they built a commemorative wall displaying the names of players who had done well during the championship. It included the name of Hai as well.
Hai was also the founder President of the International Club, which has its head office in England. Membership is only open for Grand Slam and Davis Cup players. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) awarded him with a Gold medal at their Annual General Meeting held in Lausnne (Switzerland) before 300 delegates from 198 affiliated associations of ITF including Pakistan.
Hai was also the patron of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) and a sports legend in the country.
The Pakistan Tennis Federation President Salim Saifullah Khan extend his condolences to his family on his demise on behalf of the federation.
