14 Jan Conor Niland is new Davis Cup Captain.
Conor Niland appointed Irish Davis Cup Captain
Tennis Ireland today announced the appointment of Conor Niland as the Irish Davis Cup Captain for a two year period commencing with immediate effect. Conor succeeds Garry Cahill, who resigned from the position late last year after a very successful four year stint in charge.
The 33 year old is Ireland’s most successful professional tennis player reaching a career high ATP ranking of 129. In 2011 he was the first Irish player to play at Wimbledon in 31 years and he followed that up with a first round appearance at the US Open against Novak Djokovic.
Conor played Davis Cup for a ten period and as recently as 2012 under the stewardship of Garry Cahill. He had a distinguished career for the Irish Davis Cup team winning 17 of the 29 matches he played in since making his debut in 2000 at the age of 18. He retired from professional tennis in 2012 and commenced a role as Coach with the BNP Paribas National Tennis Academy in Dublin City University, a role which he will still remain in.
At the announcement of the appointment this morning Conor said “I am honoured to have been named the Irish Davis Cup captain. Representing Ireland and being in the team environment of Davis Cup is something I always loved as a player and I am delighted to have the opportunity to coach this team."
Des Allen, CEO Tennis Ireland said earlier today “Conor is the perfect fit for this role. He is an excellent coach and holds the respect of all our leading players and that’s a fantastic start for him. Conor has had great success in his own professional career and I am certain that he is best placed to integrate his role as Irish Davis Cup Captain with the work he does at the BNP Paribas National Tennis Academy.
Ireland plays Belarus in the first round of the Euro/Africa Zone Group II Davis Cup by BNP Paribas in Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club on the 6 th – 8th March 2015. Tickets for the tie go on sale today on www.tennisireland.ie
Depending on first round results, Ireland will face either Turkey or South Africa in a second round match in July 2015.
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