Ex-US Open champion Dominic Thiem to open play at Ireland's sold-out Davis Cup tie with Austria at UL

THE opening match at this weekend's sold-out Davis Cup tie between Ireland and Austria at UL will see former US Open champion and world number three Dominic Thiem take to the court for the visitors.

Thirty-year-old Thiem, who played in the recent Australian Open, will face Ireland's Michael Agwi in the opening match at the Davis Cup World Group I Play-off tie from 12noon on tomorrow, Saturday, at UL.

Thiem won the 2020 US Open and has played in four Grand Slam finals. Turning pro in 2011, Thiem is also one of only two players with at least five career wins over each of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

The second match on court on Saturday at UL will see Osgar O'Hoisin, of Ireland, take on current world number 40 Sebastien Ofner, representing Austria.

The draw for pairings, which took place at UL Arena on Friday morning, will also see Conor Gannon and David O'Hare, of Ireland, take on the Austrian duo of Lucas Miedler and Alexander Erler.

Sunday's programme of games will also see two reverse singles matches.

A sold-out crowd of 2,400 people will attend the tie at UL on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Limerick native and former tennis professional Conor Niland is captain of the Ireland Davis Cup team this weekend.

Niland who played at Wimbledon and the US Open over a distinguished career, is hoping that the home supporters make their voices heard and get behind the home team.

The tie will be the first staging of a Davis Cup match in Limerick in 35 years. Limerick Lawn Tennis Club was the venue for previous Davis Cup success in 1989, when the Irish team beat Senegal 4-1.