The Indo-Pak Express For Peace

To me, it felt as if with each move, through each won point, they were saying to the world, “Hey, buddy up people. Find someone whose views don’t all match yours and reach out to understand.” In their campaign “Stop War, Start Tennis”, they are actually becoming the change they wish to see in the world. While honoring a myriad of rules, codes of conduct, and traditions simultaneously, they actually play tennis as if they’ve known each other all their lives. It appears that they like each other and that their camaraderie helps them to compete extremely well on the same side of the net. “We really want to make a difference, spread the message of tennis as a way of promoting the cause of peace,” Rohan Bopanna says.

Known as the Indo-Pak Express, which sounds like a train line rushing through their joined lands, the two players embody the philosophy that borders need not be uncrossable boundaries. In fact, they’ve suggested exactly the opposite, planning to play a match on a bordering area between India and Pakistan as a way of making a statement that they are brothers sharing space on the same planet, not conflicting neighbors. As most successful doubles players know, each partner must shoulder their share of the responsibility and perform well consistently. Bopanna and Qureshi are taking their game of tennis to a higher level and asking the world to join them.
Quotes: “ If even 2-3% of people say, you know, we can get along why can’t they, as well.” (R. Bopanna) “We are allies with America and the western world…” (A. Qureshi)

Note: Both Rohan Bopanna and Aisam Qureshi also share the honor of membership in the Champions for Peace. (Monaco-based international peace organization which serves “Peace through sport” along with ITM’s founder Ronald Agénor). The organization was founded by Prince Albert II of Monaco.

“Sport has a unique and irreplaceable capacity to unite people,
going far beyond ethnical, religious or social differences. 
I am convinced that sport can be at the long-term service of peace”
 
HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco

Therese A. Yob

On The Women’s Side: A Bank of the West Classic 2010 Blog
September 15, 2010

By Therese A. Yob

Having attended The Bank of the West Classic at Stanford’s Taube Tennis Stadium for over 12 years, this year I decided to do something for a friend and re-introduce her to tennis.  Although she played some in high school, working in San Francisco in hospital administration with a family at home didn’t leave her much time to explore the world of women’s tennis.  Just the perfect time to take her to see the WTA in action! For me, tennis is an inspiring sport full of interesting characters, disciplined players, etiquette and excitement of a brand I don’t feel for any other sport.  It’s probably because we really get to know the players and see them grow up and advance as players on a world stage.  Players from all classes, many countries and ethnicities, different languages, and the ideas and outlooks from those places.  My good friend, Alexa, is of Russian-American extraction and I wanted her to see how hard the Russian girls are working on the tennis court while maintaining their attractiveness, an amazing feat in itself.

In the first evening match, Ana Ivanovic from Serbia played Alisa Kleybanova of Russia.  Up in the sponsor’s box, we sat with the fans soaking up what felt like an early summer’s evening surrounded by giant oak trees and redwoods.  As the sun set, we noticed the Hoover Tower in one direction and a full moon to the south of Taube Stadium.  The lighting on the blue and green courts changed from day to night from our vantage point, however, I’m sure the highly sensitized players realized the change from sunlight to halogen before I did and felt the temperature begin to cool as well.

Ana’s fit and impressive physique on the court gave her the edge immediately.  The former French Open winner and former Number 1 Women’s Tennis Player in the world emanated a sureness that suited her well.  Whisking the ball across the court with finesse and style, she was just the right player to capture Alexa’s imagination and draw her into the match.   Of course, with intensive training Alisa Kleybanova of Russia appeared ready for action, and an opponent who worked each point to the best of her current ability. Billy Jean King appeared in the television box a few rows away.  The stadium began to fill up as fans arrived to watch after finishing up at their workplaces and homes.  Suddenly, we were surrounded by quiet for the match.

I must admit at some point, I was so involved in each move of the match that my writing self turned off.  (I’ll have to work on that!)  However, Ana’s movement seemed very natural as she glided back and forth from forehand to backhand.  My friend Alexa said, “Wow, look at her serve!”  That part of her game showed the form and grace of her training and experience. 
She has a beautiful serve motion; her toss is lifted in the European style to full height and arm extension with the hand flexed outward as you see in ballet upon release of the ball, then a graceful yet powerful contact with the ball with a forward body motion, finishing up with a full pronation of the wrist and racquet.  Nothing sloppy about her serve! Weight transfer and foot motion… perfect, a change in direction,… no problem. Although her opponent played diligently, all eyes were on Ana.  Fans cried “Ana” in support much as they did here at Stanford for the unforgettably attractive Anna Kournikova a few years back.  Her form paid dividends as did Ana Ivanovic’s as she defeated Alisa Kleybanova, 6-3; 6-2.

Dinara Safina  vs.  Kimiko Date Krumm didn’t disappoint us.   As my friend and I were both wowed by Safina ‘s height, stature and serve, she began whisking the ball across the court with finesse and style, she was just the right person to capture Alexa’s imagination and draw her into the match.  I noticed Alexa  reactions, too,  moving her head and shoulders here and there as the ball was struck. Like they say about riding a bicycle, once you learn tennis, you never forget.

Dinara Safina, or just “Safina”, the sister of former Number 1 Men’s player Marat Safin, has grown tall and much more fit with time and cuts quite a figure on the scene in her red tennis dress.  Whether a tribute to Stanford home of The Cardinal or just her favorite color, she looked smashing on the court.  With confidence and aplomb she executed her game plan and won the first set against the veteran player, Kimiko Date Krumm (6-4).

Then something extraordinary happened.  As the evening cooled down, the crowd warmed up.  Maybe it was all the hot coffee they drank (which was also sold out), or maybe they were captivated watching the “oldest player on the WTA” Kimiko Date Krumm pour on more energy as the match developed.  Kimiko’s plum-colored dress fit her petite form marvelously, as she too seemed to  draw energy from her core and shift it from herself through to the ball penetrating the court with arrow sharp shots.  In what’s often referred to as “taking her game up the next level”,  she not only put her back into the ball, but carried the fans along with her.  It didn’t hurt that she was billed the “oldest player on the women’s tour” as many mature fans swayed with her in the close second set which she took 7-6.  A stunned Safina lost the third set and the match as a strong fan base chanted for Kimiko!

Not only did the fans shift allegiance, but so did my Russian-American friend.  I said, “You never know what will happen in tennis!”  and she replied, “I decided for her since Safina will have more chances in the future, and who knows how long Kimiko will play.”   Both of my favorites in the match, Ana and Safina were Wild Card entrants into the Main Draw which leads me to recommend go to some early and Wild Card matches, not just the finals!

Therese A. Yob