The 27-year-old -- the first Pakistani to play in the Wimbledon men's singles since Haroon Rahim in 1976 -- outsmarted Britain's Lee Childs 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) on his maiden Wimbledon singles appearance on Tuesday.

He now plays Russian Marat Safin in the second round, but win or lose, Qureshi's achievement was so unusual that it even pushed cricket off the sports pages of the newspapers.

Former great Khawaja Saeed Hai, who played the main rounds at Wimbledon for three consecutive years from 1954 to 1956, hailed Qureshi's "brilliant" performance.

"I used to get the world's top players in the first round but Qureshi got a lucky draw and won," said Hai, who also played the US and French Open in 1960s.

"Now it is up to him to cash in and although Safin is not playing well these days the Russian would still be difficult to beat."

Qureshi's only previous experience of Wimbledon was in the doubles in 2002, when he created a storm by opting to defy the Pakistani Tennis Federation and play with Israel's Amir Hadad.

Pakistan, an Islamic republic, does not recognise the Jewish state.

The best performance by any Pakistani in a Wimbledon singles competition was by Haroon Rahim who reached the second round 31 years ago.

Hai said Qureshi's win must lift tennis in Pakistan, where it is overshadowed by cricket, hockey and squash.

"In the old days even my wins over English champions in tournaments never made a line in the newspapers, but now the media has projected Aisam's win and I hope that younger players will try to emulate his achievements," said Hai.

Qureshi's win in the first round was covered by all the leading television channels while newspapers also joined in saluting the gutsy player from Lahore.

"It's child's play for Aisam as he sets up Safin date," wrote The News in its sports pages.

Khalid Rehmani, president of the tennis federation of southern Sindh province, said Qureshi had not only done Pakistan proud but also given a boost to tennis across Asia.

"Just four to five players from Asia play in the main rounds of a Grand Slam these days and Qureshi is among them. It will help tennis in Asia and I hope he extends his run by beating Safin which is not impossible," said Rehmani.

Qureshi admitted he had fulfilled his life's ambition after his first-round win.

"It is going to be mad back home and I hope my win goes a long way in promoting tennis in Pakistan," Qureshi told a private television channel.