TENNIS:IRELAND HAVE been drawn against Hungary in the first round of next year's Davis Cup competition. Hungary lost last weekend in Glasgow to an Andy Murray-led Britain in their promotional play-off in the Europe/Africa Group Two play-off.
But Ireland came out of the hat second and have to travel for the fixture scheduled for February 10th-12th, which means it will certainly take place indoors.
Ireland are also hopeful both Conor Niland and Louk Sorensen will be fit and available for the tie following a season in which Niland made it to the main draw of Wimbledon and the US Open, while Sorensen, having retired earlier in the year, battled his way through the US Open qualification event and into the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
Both Irish players suffered physical ailments that wrecked any hopes of advancing, Niland debilitating food poisoning and Sorensen cramps. But Tennis Ireland hope Sorensen will make himself available for selection.
Having suffered a series of injuries over the past two years, Sorensen has gotten a new lease of life and may have rekindled a career outside of his family’s tennis academy in Stuttgart, Germany.
Ireland have played Hungary four times before in the competition, in 1932, 1960, 1998 and 2004, with Hungary holding a 3-1 winning record. In the most recent fixture played on carpet at Fitzwilliam, Hungary won the tie 4-1.
“Although the match is away for our team, I am confident that we can win this tie,” said Gary Cahill, Irish Davis Cup team captain. “I don’t fear any team in our group.”
The winners of the tie will meet Egypt or Latvia in round two on April 6th-8th 2012.
Meanwhile, Davis Cup finalists Spain and Argentina have been handed contrasting ties in the draw for the World Group, first round.
Spain, who will be chasing their third title in four years against the south Americans in December, will host Kazakhstan but Argentina have been handed a tough assignment away to Germany. The pick of the first round ties sees Switzerland at home to 32-times champions the United States.
2010 winners Serbia, beaten by Argentina in the semis in Belgrade at the weekend, are at home to Sweden, while France, who lost out to Spain, travel to Canada.
Japan, back in the World Group for the first time since 1985, have been rewarded with a home draw against Croatia.
