23 Apr BNP Paribas Irish Fed Cup Team Makes The Breakthrough
BNP Paribas Irish Fed Cup Team Makes The Breakthrough
The BNP Paribas Irish Fed Cup team reached the promotional play-off stage in the group III Fed Cup event at the weekend. The team were defeated 2-1 by Tunisia in the play-off.
Sinead Lohan of Waterford was defeated by Nour Abbes in the first singles match on a scoreline 1-6 6-3 6-3.
Amy Bowtell of Greystones faced Ons Jabeur, winner of last year’s Junior Roland Garros, but the result was not in Ireland’s favour with Jabeur defeating Bowtell in two sets and securing promotion for Tunisia to Europe/Africa Zone Group II in 2013.
In the doubles Amy Bowtell/ Jenny Claffey defeated Mouna Jebri / Ons Jabeur 6-1 6-1
The Irish team were led by Irish no. 1 Amy Bowtell from Greystones, Sinead Lohan from Tramore plays at no. 2, Jenny Claffey (Dublin) and Lynsey McCullough (Belfast) are the remaining team members.
Both Bowtell and Lohan are still teenagers (Bowtell, 18 and Lohan, 17) and both are members of the BNP Paribas National Tennis Academy.
Tennis Ireland CEO said “it’s hugely encouraging for Irish tennis to have our international ladies team make the breakthrough with these young players. Both Amy and Sinead have worked so hard for years now at the BNP Paribas National Tennis Academy and hopefully next year they will lead the team to promotion”.