Niland renews his rivalry with Ricardo Hocevar
CONOR Niland will renew his rivalry with Brazil's Ricardo Hocevar when the Irish number one competes in a round two qualifier for the US Open this Thursday night. In January Conor Niland came within two points of qualifying for the first round proper of the Australian Open, but, unfortunately, Ricardo Hocevar fought back to deny the Irish number one a place in the Grand Slam event.
Now, following an impressive first round qualifying win over Spain's David Marrero (6-0, 6-4), Conor has been drawn to face Ricardo Hocevar once more - Hocevar beat the USA's Greg Ouellette in the opening qualifying round on Tuesday evening.
If the Irish ace gets the better of Hocevar he will have to negotiate one more round before taking his place in the US Open which gets under way next Monday, August 30 at Flushing Meadows.
Conor Niland has every chance of getting the better of the 25-year-old Brazilian. Hocevar is facing into his first qualifiers for the US Open while the Limerick man is in the form of his life.
Niland (154th in the world) will hope to maintain the form which has seen Ireland's most-capped Davis Cup player win five ITF Futures titles, two Challenger Tour events, reach the main draw of the US Men's Claycourt Championships and win the Israel Open in May.
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Weather for Limerick
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
