Conor Niland Wins Israel Open Challenger Event

Sports - Other Sports

Saturday, 08 May 2010 15:32

Written by Stephen Davis

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Irish Davis Cup stalwarth -  Conor Niland  - today won the Israel Open $100,000 Challenger event in Ramat Hasharon defeating the Number 4 seed ThiagoAlves (BRA) in the final on a scoreline of 57 76(5) 63.

Alves, who has a current ranking of 127 in the ATP World rankings took the first set  before Limerick Lawn Tennis Club member Niland stormed back taking the final two sets in a match lasting 3 hours and 8 minutes.

This is 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 the main draw of the US Men's Claycourt Championships in Houston. Last month, he achieved a career high ATP World ranking of 222 following success on the Challenger tour in Jersey and also in representing Ireland in Davis Cup against Turkey.

His win today will bring him into the top 200 in the World and he takes over from Louk Sorensen as Irish Number 1.

Conor is the senior player at the BNP Paribas National Tennis Academy at Dublin City University and his success comes as no surprise to Academy Director Garry Cahill.

He commented: "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. "