12 Apr Niland announces retirement
Niland announces retirement
Irish no. 1 and Davis Cup team member, Conor Niland, has today announced his retirement due to a reoccurring hip injury. Niland who represented Ireland in 22 Davis Cup ties was the first Irishman in over twenty-five years to reach the mens singles main draw at Wimbledon 2011. He also reached the main draw of the US Open in autumn of last year facing Novak Djokovic in the first round. Niland played his last competitive match in Cairo last weekend representing Ireland in Davis Cup.
Titles
2010
Ramat Hasharon Challenger
Salzburg Challenger
2009
USA F28 Futures
2008
Great Britain F7 Futures
Ireland F2 Futures
New Delhi Challenger
2007
Croatia F4 Futures
2006
Great Britain F12 Futures
Niland said: “I am today sadly announcing my retirement from professional tennis. I have been suffering from labral tears in both hip cartilages and this has resulted in pain and restricted movement for the past nine months.
“Despite several cortisone injections and intensive physiotherapy during this time the condition has progressively worsened and has prevented me from training and competing at the levels required for professional tennis. I have considered the possibility of hip surgery but have been advised of a lengthy recovery time without any guarantee of a successful outcome.”
Niland added: “I would like to thank my family, in particular my parents, for their phenomenal support throughout my tennis career. I would not have been able to achieve the things I did without them.”