Aisam Ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan's number-one player, has never been afraid to play doubles on the ATP tour alongside a Jew or a Hindu; for him, politics, creed, religion or language do not matter when it comes to sport.
He is not out to make a particular statement, but it is hard to ignore the significance of his partnerships when he takes to the court.
Qureshi was not lined up with long-time friend Rohan Bopanna, of India, on the same side of the net in yesterday's doubles in the Davis Cup tie against Hong Kong at Victoria Park, but the story of the Muslim tennis player who is happily teams up with a Israeli or a Hindu seems to follow him like a shadow.
He smiles when the subject is raised, perhaps for the umpteenth time in his career. Why did you decide to partner an Israeli - Amir Hadad - and an Indian - Bopanna - in doubles on the ATP circuit? 'I have never taken it that seriously. I always thought sport should never mix with politics, religion or language. That's the beauty of sport, it should bring all countries and cultures together.
'It's not like I want to make a statement, it's just that I do well with these guys. If I feel I do well with a Jew, Christian or Indian and, if they can help me to promote this game in Pakistan, then I will definitely keep on playing with them,' Qureshi adds.
The Lahore-born Qureshi made waves in 2002 at Wimbledon when he partnered Hadad, from Ramla, Israel, in the men's doubles event.