TENNIS:CONOR NILAND successfully opened for Ireland in their Davis Cup Europe/African Zone Group II match yesterday in Riverview, when he won the first of five matches over the weekend against Tunisia. The North African nation came back to level the score when their number one player Malek Jaziri won in straight sets over Barry King 6-1 6-1 7-5.
Despite being a little ring rusty Niland didn’t disappoint an expectant audience of almost 500 fans. The Irish number one had not played a competitive match since the first Tuesday of Wimbledon over two weeks ago and coming up against the heavy serve and forehand of Anis Ghorbel required some adjustment.
The court was a little quicker than when Ireland last played on it back in March against Luxemburg but Niland adapted and in the early sparring he played his way into the match, taking his first opportunity in the 10th game on the Ghorbel serve.
The Tunisian thought he had won the point on deuce after saving two set points as Niland squeezed. But the umpire intervened and pointed out, after much remonstration from the Tunisian team, that he had touched the net in finishing the point. Ghorbel did touch the net but whether it happened after the point had finished was a moot point.
Niland clinched the first set on his fifth set point, a loose forehand from Tunisia sailing over the baseline. The American College player, although a little streaky, had a big game and his serving in the first set was booming and not wanting in length. But once Niland was onto him and had bedded in, his control of the points became more evident as the match advanced.
“Conor is very concentrated on court and never gives free points,” said Ghorbel of his opponent who did not face one service break point. “Once I lost the first set I lost some confidence and Conor started returning well on my serve.”
Ghorbel increasingly looked for big shots to end the points and increasing failed to find them. Two breaks of serve in the second set gave Niland an unassailable 2-0 lead before he polished off the match in three sets, ripping through Ghorbel 6-1 in the final one in just 23 minutes for 6-4 6-2 6-1
“I didn’t know what to expect,” said the Irish number one. “I had to soak up some pressure and hope his level dropped a bit. It was a frantic first set and then things settled into a rhythm. I think I did well when I needed to and played some good points.
“I was pretty happy with it. His level dropped after the first set because I think his belief dropped.”
Ireland need to win the match if they wish to avoid slipping out of this division and into Group III, which is a different style of tournament and run off as a round-robin event. The doubles today will be crucial to give Ireland an advantage going into the final reverse singles on Sunday.
King trailed the talented Jaziri 6-1 6-1 and all looked lost as the 26-year-old was overwhelmed in those opening sets, the Tunisian’s serve and cutting forehand doing much of the damage. Jaziri, ranked 293, stuttered in the face of a mini King revival in the third set but won with ease, 7-5 in the final stanza.
Day one results
Singles: C Niland (Ireland) bt A Ghorbel (Tunisia) 6-4 6-2 6-1; M Jaziri (Tunisia) beat B King (Ireland) 6-1 6-1 7-5.
