ISLAMABAD - British top junior tennis star Ahmed Zyaan, who is in Pakistan to feature in Syed Tajammul Abbas ITF Pakistan World Junior Ranking Tennis Championship 2018, is eager to win title in Pakistan.

Talking to The Nation, 17-year-old Zyaan said: “Both my parents belong to Pakistan and this drove me to send my entry in the event. I landed here yesterday and I am loving the hotel Serena, where I am staying. The tennis complex is very huge and beautiful. My aunt has been accompanying me from Britain and I don’t feel security issue at all. I am fully focused on playing good tennis and want to return home with trophy.”

He said his parents were passionate about him and wanted him to at least once travel to Pakistan and see the beauty and hospitality of the country, which I have started loving. “Let me tell all that the entire stories regarding security and other negative propaganda against Pakistan are completely baseless. I can realise myself the beauty of Pakistan and also can feel the love, respect and care Pakistanis give to the visiting players. I am highly pleased to be here.”

About his career, Zyaan said: “I am a professional tennis player and I have to train to achieve my targets. I am only 17 and Rafal Nadal is my favourite. Like Nadal, I have also switched from right to left hand. I started playing tennis when I was only 4. I have also played cricket and soccer, while I have played at junior level at Manchester City. But now I want to adopt tennis as professional career. When I was 11, my coach told me to start playing from left hand rather than right, as left is my natural hand. I was playing in top 5 in England before I switched hands, but after doing so, I have tremendous success. Besides winning titles in UK, I have also won international events at junior level. I hardly play in UK, that’s why I don’t exact know my actual rankings, but I am sure I am in top 5.”

He further said that he has already played on clay courts and he hasn’t any pressure rather he is motivated and just wants to win. “Being top seed gives me sense of responsibility, so I am here to play quality tennis. I know I can’t take things for granted and I know competition would be very tough. I have got bye in the first round, so I will play today (Tuesday). I didn’t take rest and started practice soon after arriving and I will continue my training till I win the title.”

When asked his parents are from Pakistan, but he can’t speak Urdu, while he is fluent in Arabic besides English, Zyaan said: “Actually, I read and write Holy Quran, so I started taking keen interest in Arabic, that’s why I can easily speak in Arabic, while I am also learning Urdu.”

About coming Pakistan again to play tennis here, the British-born said: “I would love to come here. My first experience is going great and I am also from this soil because I have strong roots here. My grandfather also lives in Lahore, so I don’t see any reason not to come again and again. “Pakistan is very beautiful and I can feel the people are highly hospitable and know how to give respect to the visitors. If I have time in near future from my tennis activities, I will definitely come again and visit a few places.

“I am here to play my best tennis and least bother about winning or losing, as I just want to play and make some new friends here. I am also thankful to Pakistan Tennis Federation and all those, who are highly supportive and caring and I want to see them again,” he concluded.