Conor Niland spearheads Davis Cup team

LIMERICK tennis star Conor Niland spearheads Ireland’s Davis Cup team which plays Algeria this weekend. The 27 year old is the highest ranked player in the Ireland’s Davis Cup team, which plays in the Euro/Africa Zone Group II clash. Niland, Louk Sorensen, Colin O’Brien and James McGee will travel with team captain Sean Sorensen to the North African nation to play at the Office du Complexe Olympique Mohamed Boudiaf venue. The winners of this weekend’s tie will progress into the second round of Group II Euro/Africa Zone to face either Portugal or Cyprus in July. The backbone of the team will be Limerick’s Niland (279 ATP World Ranking) and Louk Sorensen (307). Niland has been a mainstay in the Irish Davis Cup team since 2003 making 20 appearances under the Irish banner in that time.
Niland made his Davis Cup debut in July 2000 against Croatia at Fitzwilliam, taking a set off current world No 25 Ivo Karlovic in a dead rubber.
The Limerick man has 20 matches, including singles and doubles, under his belt, with an 11-9 win-loss record.
Niland and James McGee have prepared for the tie by taking part in ATP clay court tournaments in Morocco.
Team preparation has also taken place at the National Tennis Academy in the National Tennis Centre.
Irish team captain, Sean Sorensen and the rest of his team travelled out to Algeria last Sunday morning -with have four days to get familiar with the surroundings of the 2,000 seater venue.
Ireland will go into the tie with high hopes of win, as this is the first time in several seasons that the Irish could draw on the strongest squad available to them. With all players in the team including reserve team member Barry King all having current ATP rankings, the Irish will certainly feel that they can produce a result in the North African qualifier.

Jerome O’Connell