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Niland shines in Houston
LIMERICK tennis professional Conor Niland, this week, qualified for the main draw of an ATP World Tour event for the first time in his career.
The Mungret man won through three rounds of action to reach the first round proper of the US Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston, Texas. However, Niland then suffered defeat at the first hurdle at River Oaks.
Niland was due to face American Mardy Fish, but a back injury forced Fish to withdraw just hours beforehand. India's 116th ranked Somdev Devvarman was handed a late call-up and he made the best of his late entry to defeat Niland 6-4 6-2. A victory for the 228th ranked Conor Niland would have seen him secure a round two shot at Lleyton Hewitt.
This week represented a huge career breakthrough for Niland.
In the early part of the season he was within a couple of points of qualifying in Doha and also at the Australian Open in Melbourne. In recent weeks he reached a career high ATP World ranking of 228 following success on the Challenger Tour in Jersey and also in representing Ireland in Davis Cup against Turkey.
Both Niland and his Irish Davis Cup team-mate Louk Sorensen are expected to play the French Open qualifying draw at Roland Garros.
"Conor has worked very hard to make certain improvements in his game in recent months and in particular his level of fitness has improved dramatically. All of us who work with him on a daily basis at the Academy can see the improvements and we felt it was only a question of when he would make this breakthrough," said Garry Cahill, who is the Academy Director at the BNP Paribas National Tennis Academy.
"Houston is a good surface for Conor and clearly he can now do very well at Roland Garros this year."
Niland's appearance in the ATP event will boost his world rankings to a career high.
In advancing to the main draw, he saved a match point in a marathon contest lasting over three hours. After sharing two sets with America's 243-ranked Alex Bogomolov Junior, the Limerick native battled back from a 3-5 and 40-0 advantage deficit in the decider to prevail 5-7 6-3 7-5.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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