Tennis Davis CupThe International Tennis Federation (ITF) has handed Tennis Ireland's Davis Cup promotion aspirations a lifeline which will allow the Irish body host the Group Three qualifying rounds in Dublin next July (11th-17th).

This year Ireland were demoted from the Euro-African zone Group Two. This was an unprecedented blow for Tennis Ireland and immediate plans were put in place to help redress a quite humiliating experience.

Tennis Ireland's desperate plea to the ITF to be given the chance of hosting the 2005 qualifiers, with valuable home advantage in mind, has been successful and is, according to CEO Des Allen, a huge boost for Irish tennis.

"Most importantly," says Allen, "it will give us a big advantage on the outdoor artificial grass courts at Fitzwilliam LTC."

Eight nations will be in Dublin trying to qualify for the Group Two series. The seven other nations in the dreaded basement group are Cyprus, Turkey, Iceland, Nigeria, Tunisia, Armenia and San Marino. The winners and runners-up will be promoted.

"It's going to be tough. Cyprus and Armenia are our biggest fears, but very few of the visiting players have experience of playing on artificial grass and that's where our main advantage lies," said Allen.

Another Sorensen, Seán's youngest son Louk, is likely to join his brother and Ireland's top player Kevin on the Irish team.