TENNIS: Tennis Ireland is set to revitalise its links with professional tennis this summer. The Irish body has gained the approval of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) to stage three world-ranking events in June and July.
The first two of these tournaments will be Futures world-ranking tour events. These are fixed for June 19th and 26th, the venues to be decided. Prize money of $15,000 (€12,600) each week will be on offer. In July a $50,000 (€42,200) Challenger event will be staged at the Fitzwilliam LTC in Dublin. This tournament has been designated the Men's Irish Open Championships. The men's open has not been played at Fitzwilliam in 16 years.
Tennis Ireland's chief executive, Des Allen, described it as "a hugely exciting development".
Meanwhile, Gareth Doran lit up the David Lloyd National Indoor Championships at the Riverview Club, Dublin, last evening.
Doran, a younger brother of the former international John, made a sparkling recovery from a set down to Cork's Paul Fitzgerald, the Irish under-18 champion. Doran took the 90-minute match 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Top seed Conor Niland and his main rival, Eoin Heavey, advanced as expected with easy wins.
Ann Marie Hogan looked to be on the brink of defeat when forced to a first-set tie-break by Leigh Walsh but the storm soon passed as the fourth seed romped to a 7-6, 6-1 win.
SECOND ROUND: Men's Singles - G Doran bt P Fitzgerald 3-6 6-1 6-2; D McLoughlin bt S Wrafter 6-2 6-2; C Taylor bt N Fitzgerald 7-6 6-2; E Heavey bt C Gibney 6-1; C Niland bt M Bowtell 6-0 6-0; B King bt D O'Connell 7-5 3-0 retired. Women's Singles - E Ó Riain bt A Afanasjeva 6-0 6-1; C Finucane bt A Leonard 6-1 6-1; L Lawlor bt L Cuddy 6-1 6-3; A M Hogan bt L Walsh 7-6 6-1; M Levova bt C Rowan 6-2 6-2; R LLewellan bt M Dunne 6-0 6-1; R Dillon bt K Leonard 6-4 6-0; A Maughan bt N Coveney 5-7 6-3 6-2.
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