Tennis

**Grey Boy** · 21/11/2010, 10:15 AM

Conor Niland is in the final of the Salzburg Challenger today. Made the semis at Loughborough last week. A win today should see him in the top 130 in Mondays world rankings.

**Grey Boy** · 21/11/2010, 4:11 PM

For the record Conor won the title 7-6,6-7,6-3. Should see him well up the rankings tomorrow.

**Aberdonian Stu** · 21/11/2010, 7:25 PM

The ATP Tour Finals started today. Murray beat Soderling earlier, Federer playing Ferrer now. A lot of it is down to how much Nadal is willing to push himself. Much like last year he's entering it a bit banged up and may choose to look after himself rather than go all-out.

**Spudulika** · 12/01/2011, 9:42 PM

Conor Niland went out to an experienced journeyman pro 7-6 7-6 in the first round of qualifying for the Aussie Open. Very disappointing performance which will hammer his ranking.

**Spudulika** · 04/02/2011, 9:26 PM

While our men are improving steadily, womens tennis in Ireland has been pretty poor the last few years. However this week has been good for 2 of our players. Amy "The Beanpole" Bowtell has made the last 8 of a 10k event in Portugal and herself and her partner, Julia Moriarty (Australia born but Irish parents) reached the last 4 of the doubles. Bowtell is one to watch unless injuries mess her up. Moriarty is a solid top 700 player but not much more. Bowtell could crack the top 200 in 3-4 years and make top 100 in 5.

**sixesandsevens** · 05/02/2011, 12:41 PM

Conor Niland went out to an experienced journeyman pro 7-6 7-6 in the first round of qualifying for the Aussie Open. Very disappointing performance which will hammer his ranking.

Niland had no points to defend in Australia so his ranking is safe for the moment. He'll be disappointed not to have done better but he's consistently picking up points and I'd be confident that he can break the top 100 this year barring any injuries. He's already made the quarters of a challenger event in Germany this season and his ranking is stable for now.

The biggest worry really has to be for Louk Sorensen who's had a terrible time since last years Ozzie Open. Looks like he'll be out of action for the Davis Cup tie against Luxembourg in March which is going to be a tough tie with Gilles Muller in their side.

**sixesandsevens** · 05/02/2011, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by Spudulika

While our men are improving steadily, womens tennis in Ireland has been pretty poor the last few years. However this week has been good for 2 of our players. Amy "The Beanpole" Bowtell has made the last 8 of a 10k event in Portugal and herself and her partner, Julia Moriarty (Australia born but Irish parents) reached the last 4 of the doubles. Bowtell is one to watch unless injuries mess her up. Moriarty is a solid top 700 player but not much more. Bowtell could crack the top 200 in 3-4 years and make top 100 in 5.

Womens tennis is well behind the mens game alright, whats needed is more girls in the game who want to take the sport seriously, but unfortunately the interest just isn't there at the moment. The future's looking brighter though with Bowtell and Moriarty who should form the backbone of womens tennis for the next 5-6 years. Sinead Lohan could be another serious prospect she makes the step up to the pro tours.

**Spudulika** · 07/02/2011, 8:21 AM

Agreed on all fronts. What's quite annoying is that for a small (-ish) investment women's tennis can blossom. I was at DCU speaking with the head coach and he pointed out some of the youngsters they have under contract. One of the girls stood out right away, she was as good as anything I've seen here (which is a big deal) and as he said, for a small investment they'd get big returns. Of course injuries, boyfriends, partying might disturb things, though there is a future for women's tennis in Ireland, though it does boil down to funding.

**sixesandsevens** · 08/02/2011, 10:36 PM

Thats the nature of the sport I'm afraid - it takes a lot of money to get a player even on the lower rungs of the pro tour, be it male or female. We're still a long way behind a lot of European countries with the bang they get for their buck but the center at DCU is a great facility for the sport and the investment is starting to show albeit more slowly in the womens game.

**Spudulika** · 09/02/2011, 7:07 AM

Agreed on everything. DCU is excellent, their program top class, and their support network really impressive. For a player ranked 300-600 it costs roughly around 80,000e to take part in c. 20 tournaments, have a coach for some of them and have sufficient back up to make an impact. That's out of the reach for most countries and in Ireland there isn't the belief in what we have. Though there is such a small difference between, for example, Fed Cup Division 2 and 3 with Ireland well capable of going up. The step further up the ladder is tougher, but again in a couple of years it's easier. But then again, our media are a little reticent in backing tennis in Ireland. There was a time when RTE televised the semi's and finals live of the Irish Open - which was the second oldest Open tournament in the world. With some media backing there might be a difference.

**sixesandsevens** · 09/02/2011, 11:29 PM

I'd like to think that media backing would be there if we can get Andy Murray over to Fitzwilliam, thats if we can get past Luxembourg in the Davis Cup. They were set to meet last year before the Brits made a show of themselves against Lithuania. Rumor was that RTE were very interested in getting involved for the tie if Britain had gotten through their round- I'm sure the interest would be there again if results go according to plan this year.
RTE's interest in the sport really has waned since the early 90's and they don't even seem too interested in screening Wimbledon highlights anymore, you'd hope that a traditional power like Britain could drum up a bit of badly needed interest. And there's the catch - without the media interest the players can't get the sponsorship opportunities to fund those 20 odd tournaments they need to play in each year.

**Stevo Da Gull** · 11/02/2011, 9:01 PM

An Ireland - Britain tie in the DC would be great for generating a bit of interest.

There are some great kids playing in this country and there is hope for the future, though it seems to me that a lot of our young male players are lacking in height, which makes a difference in today's game. The women's side looks more likely to produce a top 100 player in the foreseable future. Things aren't made easier by the courts we have here and the courts on the tour. Once our kids go to Europe they're usually on clay against clay-courters, while many of our players have been practising on artificial surfaces.

On a seperate matter, I don't think that there is enough variety in the courts on the pro-tour. It's mostly slow hardcourts and clay. A real grass season and the return of green clay to the tour would be nice. I also really enjoy watching tennis on a clay court that allows aggressive play, which is more possible on green clay or on red clay when dry or at altitude, indoors, or composed correctly. It allows some contrasting match-ups to flourish which are great to watch.

**sixesandsevens** · 13/02/2011, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by Stevo Da Gull

our young male players are lacking in height, which makes a difference in today's game. The women's side looks more likely to produce a top 100 player in the foreseable future.

Not so sure on that one Stevo. Sam Barry is a great prospect and his coach has full confidence that he can make the top 100. Although he's no giant he has plenty of height at around 6'1"/6'2" which is more than enough to make a good go of it in the future. Here's hoping Bowtell and Barry can both break the top 100, that would be a great result for Irish tennis.

Britain and Ireland have a major problem with their clubs installing artificial grass courts which are great on the knees of the fee paying old dears who have the major say on facilities but are terrible for developing a high performance game.

**Spudulika** · 13/02/2011, 9:30 PM

Hard and carpet courts are important, artificial grass has no place on the ITF/WTA/ATP tours, though it is possible to play an entire season without ever setting foot on a clay court - if one chose to. I don't know, Stevo, if hardcourts could be termed slow, it depends on the type of manufacture. Also at the Academy in DCU they have red clay, though as you said clay differs. Agree with sixesandsevens about Bowtell and Barry flying the flag into the top 100, it would be a big step for the Irish game.

Roll on Ireland vs GB, though get a tricky tie with Luxembourg out of the way first. Muller is a very good player and Niland beating him would give us a real chance.

**sixesandsevens** · 04/03/2011, 2:15 PM

Davis Cup kicking of this afternoon in Riverview. Major shock, looks like James McGee has been dropped from the team for some reason and Barry King will be playing as No2 in the tie. Its a real gamble throwing King in the deep end when King is ranked about 300 places lower than McGee. I hope they know what they're doing, cause it looks like the side has been seriously weakened by this!

http://www.independent.ie/sport/othe...d-2565565.html

**sixesandsevens** · 04/03/2011, 6:37 PM

Ireland up at the moment. Niland had a straight sets win in the first rubber. King is looking like an inspired decision at the moment, he's a set up against world no.90 Gilles Muller at the moment!!!!

**Spudulika** · 05/03/2011, 9:57 PM

Disappointing line fluffing today at Riverview. The Irish pair played well, but both seemed to lack that little bit of composure at crucial points. Muller is a class act, you'd expect it from a former World number 1 and quality pro. Can't wait for tomorrow, the Niland-Muller showdown will be worth it, if we win that it's game on. The 2 18 year olds for Luxembourg look like children, and are tiny too!

**sixesandsevens** · 06/03/2011, 9:45 AM

let's hope that Niland can keep up with his good form today then. I think Barry King showed Muller is beatable on Friday night, hopefully Niland can pull it out of the bag today

**sixesandsevens** · 06/03/2011, 3:59 PM

All over at Riverview Niland has lost the fourth rubber in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to Muller. Luxembourg can't be beaten at 3-1

http://www.rte.ie/sport/tennis/2011/0306/daviscup.html