Sport
Irish Davis Cup team captain hails “world-class” UL facilities ahead of high-profile clash
Irish Davis Cup team captain Conor Niland is hoping the crowd gets behind his team for the high-profile clash against Austria at University of Limerick this weekend.
Irish Davis Cup team captain Conor Niland is hoping the crowd gets behind his team for the high-profile clash against Austria at University of Limerick this weekend
Irish Davis Cup team captain Conor Niland is hoping the crowd gets behind his team for the high-profile clash against Austria at University of Limerick this weekend.
The proud Limerick man hailed the “world-class” tennis facility that has been specially constructed in the UL Sport Arena for the match this Saturday and Sunday.
A sold-out crowd of 2,400 people per day will see Niland’s team take on Austrian counterpart Jurgen Melzer’s charges in a feast of top-class tennis at the UL venue.
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UL Provost Professor Shane Kilcommins paid a visit to the Arena this Wednesday to meet Conor and the Irish team ahead of the World Group 1 playoff tie, which will take place over two days on Saturday and Sunday, the first staging of a Davis Cup match in Limerick in 35 years.
“It is unbelievable, it looks like a full tour event here, the quality of the court is first class – it was the same court I think that they used for the Bille Jean King cup final in London in November and the seating arrangements, it looks like a top-class pro event, which is what this is. So it’s super exciting,” said Conor, who captains the team in the first home tie Ireland has hosted in nine years.
The former tennis professional, who played at Wimbledon and the US Open, is hoping that the home supporters make their voices heard and get behind the team of players Simon Carr, Osgar O’hOisin, Michael Agwi and Conor Gannon.
“It is sold-out, 2,400 seats both days – so I really want to encourage people who have bought tickets to come out, get loud, the Davis Cup atmosphere is allowed to be a little bit more raucous than a tour event, and we are going to need the support and use the home advantage, so we are really excited. Hopefully everyone will get behind the lads.
“It is very special to be in Limerick, obviously I haven’t had a lot of opportunity to be back in a tennis context in a long time, and to have it in such a world-class, purpose-built venue here in UL just feels like world class tennis in my home city, which is really special for me, so very excited.”
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