Tennis

[Spudulika]

Following on a previous topic on the thread (about Sam Barry) he's pushing hard for a place on the DC team to face Tunisia. He's probably the one Irish player capable of making the top-100 in singles, though his doubles form is really looking good. He's a full senior now so it's time to move. Losing Louk Sorenson is going to hurt, but the Irish team is looking good for a 4-1 win.

On the tour side, Conor Niland was supposed to get a wild card for Wimbledon (under a long standing agreement) which didn't happen. But he was unlucky in England last week and if he gets over his aversion to grass could do well in Wimbledon qualifiers. Though at least Ireland will have one rep, of sorts, in the 1st week of Wimbledon.

[BonnieShels]

Niland wins first Wimbledon qualifier
Monday, 13 June 2011 16:29
Ireland's Conor Niland has won his first match of qualifying for Wimbledon in a dramatic last set decicder.
Niland beat Josselin Ouanna of France 6-3 4-6 8-6. Niland was 5-2 down in the deciding set but recovered to progress to the next round.
The Limerick man must win two more matches to get through to the first round proper at SW19.
He will meet Paolo Lorenzi or Greg Jones next.

rte.ie/sport/tennis/2011/0613/nilandc.html

[sixesandsevens]

It's Greg Jones next up! He beat the the number 11 seed in three sets. Dunno much about the guy round 220 in the world and relatively young, so could be a surprise package.
looked like it had gotten away from him after he dropped three break points at the start of the third, and lost the game. Took him a long time recover from that. Fair play to him for pulling it out of the fire the way he did

[Spudulika]

What didn't get much airtime is that Conor saved a whopping 5 match points! Lots of Irish interest in Wimbledon this year with Conor and the Irish-based Diatchenko playing today.

[sixesandsevens]

Another big win for Conor in the second round of quelled today on three sets. Played some great stuff, jones couldn't handle the lobs and groundstrokes during the second and third set. Anything that jones threw at him came straight back

[Stevo Da Gull]

Best of luck to Conor in the final qualifier. On the verge :)

[Real ale Madrid]

Best of luck to him indeed - taking on Nikola Metkic of Croatia on Court "C" tomorrow - up 2nd, so due on approx 12.15. Metkic is ranked 274, so I think this is probably Niland's best chance to date to make a main draw.

[BonnieShels]

Best of luck to him indeed - taking on Nikola Metkic of Croatia on Court "C" tomorrow - up 2nd, so due on approx 12.15. Metkic is ranked 274, so I think this is probably Niland's best chance to date to make a main draw.

Got the lowdown from an insider aka that man above. Reckons that Metkic is solid but Niland should have enough for him.

[Spudulika]

All going well Ireland will have 2 players in the singles main draw this weekend. Mtkic is good but has a history of seriously choking. Hasn't fulfilled his potential as a junior, mainly because of poor coaching. Conor has the edge, even if grass is not a good surface for him. GC expected him to go out in the 1st!

[sixesandsevens]

Play was completely suspended by about half six tonight. Players are due back on court at 10.30 in the morning. The Wozniak match is still to be completed so Niland probably won't be on court until around noon, weather permitting

[Dodge]

Niland’s on court now. Broke his opponent in the first game and now leads 2-0

[Real ale Madrid]

Didn't realise it was a 5 set match! 4-2 up anyway - play seems to be suspended again - will barely get done by Monday at this rate.

[Spudulika]

This happened to him a couple of weeks ago, in a good position, messed about by rain until the match had to be completed indoors. Won't happen now, but he would have done a number on the Croat (called a Serbian on Sport at 7 the other night, yikes).

[Spudulika]

Play abandoned for the day. Still 4-2 Niland, Diatchenko didn't get on court.

[Grey Boy]

This happened to him a couple of weeks ago, in a good position, messed about by rain until the match had to be completed indoors. Won't happen now, but he would have done a number on the Croat (called a Serbian on Sport at 7 the other night, yikes).

His opponent that day went on to play Nadal in the 2nd round of Queens. He was 1 set up and cruising 3-1 in the 2nd at the time. Play starts at 10:30 again this morning but the forecast isn't good again.

[Spudulika]

I heard last evening that no matter what WImbledon will insist the matches with qualifiers in them go ahead as normal - what a load of tosh, they probably won't get finished until Sunday! Plus Roehampton is the closest thing to a field of spuds that you'll ever see!

[Grey Boy]

At least Conor's up first and will hopefully avoid the expected late afternoon rain.

[Grey Boy]

Spoke to soon, they've now been delayed twice today and have only completed 10 games. Currently Niland leads 6-3,4-3 with serve in the 2nd. He's controlled his own service games quite easily and has had a good few break points which he hasn't put away. Hopefully theses delays won't affect his performance.

[legendz]

I hope he can keep it together and take the next set that he needs.

[Dodge]

Niland wins 6-3 7-6(5) 6-4

Great stuff

[BonnieShels]

He won! Nyiaow!

Get in

[Real ale Madrid]

Mighty stuff indeed!

Anyone know which qualifier plays who?

[Dodge]

He's qualifier 11 if you can find out who he plays

[sixesandsevens]

Great win for him today. Didn't put a foot wrong all day long against a pretty solid player. The wind down at roehampton was tough to serve in but Niland had little or no difficulties.

He's playing well at the moment and we should find out who he's up against in the next hour or two. He could get Tsonga or Roddick which wouldn't be great, but there's a few clay court specialists who've been drawn against qualifiers which would be a great chance for him to get into the 2nd round

[Real ale Madrid]

Roddick would be fantastic ! Would certainly put him on centre or court 1.

[sixesandsevens]

It would be great to see alright, but in the grand scheme of things I think he'll be hoping for a kinder draw so he can pick up a few more ranking points

[sixesandsevens]

He's qualifier 11 if you can find out who he plays

Well looking down through the draw the 11th qualifying spot lies with andy Roddick. Yikes!

Not sure if it works like that and I'm pretty sure inland didn't know as to who was going to play when he came off court

[Real ale Madrid]

http://www.menstennisforums.com/showthread.php?t=184537&page=102


Conor Niland to play Adrian Mannarino in Wimbledon first round

Frenchman, ranked 53, info here:
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Mannarino

[Real ale Madrid]

Oh and the winner of that plays some lad from Switzerland.

Hint: Not Wawrinka......

[sixesandsevens]

well, its not the worst draw - probably not the best one either. Mannarino is a fairly useful player, but hopefully James Ward can drop Conor a little bit of inside knowledge on him from a few weeks ago.

Federer, wouldn't be a problem. Sure Niland has had the better of him in the past :)
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/how-niland-beat-federer-fourteen-years-ago/348049/

[Spudulika]

2 Irish-based players in Wimbledon! If Conor winning his first round match to play Federer in the 2nd would be brilliant. And Diatchenko plays Hantuchova in the 1st round (if Hantuchova doesn't pull out) and if she gets through she'll play the winner of 2 qualifiers. Maybe the summer is getting better after all.

[Dodge]

I kinda think thats the worst draw possible. Ranked 53 he should beat Conor so Conor neither gets the exposure of playing a big gun, nor a realistic chance to advance

Let's hope he has the match of his life

[Spudulika]

I'd give Conor an even chance of winning, simply by virtue of the adrenalin. Mannarino's only made a recent leap, has lots of money behind him but he's very inconsistent on grass. Conor has nothing to lose so he'll give it a go. He should have had a wild card for Wimbledon this year but the LTA pulled strokes to mess him about. Diatchenko's first up today, against Hantuchova (if she plays). Maybe she'll get a passport and we'll have a decent Fed Cup team.

[pineapple stu]

Oh and the winner of that plays some lad from Switzerland.

Hint: Not Wawrinka......
Heard on the radio that Niland has a 100% record against Federer. Beat him in some junior tournament back in 94!

[legendz]

Great performance by Niland to get this far!

[culloty82]

Will TG4 be showing the match tomorrow - usually the picture feed is from the BBC and Eurosport, but hopefully they'll have live cameras for full coverage.

[BonnieShels]

Heard on the radio that Niland has a 100% record against Federer. Beat him in some junior tournament back in 94!

http://foot.ie/threads/95597-Tennis?p=1499452&viewfull=1#post1499452

[Real ale Madrid]

Will TG4 be showing the match tomorrow - usually the picture feed is from the BBC and Eurosport, but hopefully they'll have live cameras for full coverage.

Never thought of that actually, might get it on the bbc red button ?

Anyway - weather permitting, Conor Niland is due 3rd on court 17 tomorrow, after Nadia Petrova's first round game and a another women's game that's already in the third set - best of luck to him again.

[Real ale Madrid]

According to Tennis Ireland - TG4 will be showing Niland's game live today - should be on court between 2 and 3.

[pineapple stu]

Niland on now. Only going on score updates, but seems to be doing ok so far. 4-4 in the first.

Edit - and Niland held to 15; 5-4 now.

[pineapple stu]

Mannarino just saved the first of two set points; come on Conor!

[Real ale Madrid]

Doh! 3 sets points gone.

Diachenko - up a break in the 3rd set against Hantuchova

[Cuyahoga]

Niland wins first set 6-4.

[pineapple stu]

Won the first set! 6-4 after five set points. Great start.

[Real ale Madrid]

Edit - hantuchova breaks back - 1 game all - 3rd set.

[Cuyahoga]

If you didnt know what Conor Niland looks like and you are watching the match on tv , there is no doubt who the irish man is and who the frenchman is.

[Real ale Madrid]

Wife watching at home telling me Niland has huge support - Tricolours everywhere - hopefully that will give him a big boost.

[Real ale Madrid]

Mannarino serving now for the second set.

edit - One Set all.

Diatchenko beaten by Hantuchova - 4-6, 7-6, 6-3

[Cuyahoga]

Diatchenko.....

Hantuchova is Hot
Its funny that you can hear a pin drop when Mannarino wins a point.

[osarusan]

3rd set tie break now.