dᵻspˈaɪt nˈɛvɚ wˈɪnɪŋ ɐ tˈʊɹ sˈɪŋɡəlz mˈætʃ əbˌʌv sˈæɾəlˌaɪt lˈɛvəl , ˈɪsmeɪl plˈeɪd tˈuː sˈɪŋɡəlz mˈætʃᵻz fɔːɹ ˈɪndiə ɪn ɐ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ wˈɜːld ɡɹˈuːp plˈeɪˈɔf tˈaɪ ɐɡˈɛnst sˈaʊθ ˈæfɹɪkə.
Despite never winning a tour singles match above Satellite level , Ismail played two singles matches for India in a 1994 World Group Play-off tie against South Africa.