Niland takes another giant stride

Tennis: Ireland’s Conor Niland has taken another significant step forward in what has already been a ground breaking season by qualifying for the main draw of the US Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston, Texas.

Niland, who narrowly missed qualification for the Qatar Exxon Mobil Open in Doha and the Australian Open earlier this year, beat Alex Bogomolov Jr in three sets (5-7, 6-3, 7-5) last night to book a meeting with former champion Mardy Fish in the first round proper.

The American, ranked 97 in the world at the moment after a career high of 17, retired injured against Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in Miami last week.

Niland’s ranking of 228th in the world was only recently obtained but a win over Fish and a place in the second round against Australia’s defending champion Lleyton Hewitt would trump any achievement to date.

It would also provide a priceless confidence boost ahead of the qualifiers for the French Open at Roland Garros.

Niland’s match against Fish is the second game on this evening’s session.