13 May Niland defeated by Johansson in Izmir Cup
Irish No.1 Conor Niland was unable to build on an excellent opening win over Karol Beck at the $64,000 Izmir Cup Challenger event in Turkey today (13th May). Niland was defeated in three sets by former world No.9 Joachim Johansson of Sweden 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
The Swede is currently battling his way back up the ATP rankings after a succession of injuries have limited his playing time over the past two years and the win over Niland is one of his best results in that period. Conor will be disappointed not to have built on his performance during the second set, where he tied the match one set all with a convincing display of tennis. However the towering Swede’s experience in such situations was enough for him to regroup and grind out a 6-3 win in the third and final set.
Johansson will now go on to face Joshua Goodall of Great Britain in the quarter-final.