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Clean sweep keeps course for promotion
Irish Independent; Jul 16, 2005
IRELAND'S Davis Cup team have set up a crucial promotion showdown
against Cyprus after Owen Casey's charges topped Pool A of the Group
Three Europe-Africa Zone with yesterday's 3-0 blitz of Iceland.
As a result, the host country will meet the Marcos Baghdatis-powered
Cypriat side, who finished as Pool B winners, in a four-strong
round-robin stage from which two countries will earn a valuable
promotion to Group Two of the Europe-Africa Zone. The other two
countries involved are Armenia and Tunisia. Ireland have already
played the Armenians, winning with another 3-0 whitewash, so their
final match on Sunday will be against Tunisia.
If the Irish lose to Cyprus, they will have to overcome the North
Africans to clinch a promotion place.
Baghdatis (20) is certainly going to prove a handful for Ireland, as he
was the top under-18 player in the world in 2003, and he is now placed
at a very respectable number 68 in the ATP singles world rankings.
Baghdatis also attracted some attention when he pushed the
all-conquering Roger Federer to four-sets in last year's US Open and
advanced to the fourth round of this year's Australian Open.
Kevin Sorensen is saddled with the unenviable task of facing
the dynamic Limassol right-hander but the Irish No 1 will draw
encouragement from the fact that he shocked Armenia's highly rated
Sargis Sargsian 6-3 6-3 on Thursday.
"It's going to be very difficult for me, but if I play to my maximum
I'll have a chance," said Kevin who will be facing the Cypriot for
the first time.
If the tie is still in the balance after the two singles, Baghdatis
is certain to play in the doubles, and that will add to Ireland's
difficulties.
Ireland's clean sweep of yesterday's opponents, a third straight win
of the week, offered the host country an opportunity to underline
the depth and strength of their squad. Conor Niland got the nod for
the number two singles slot with Casey deciding to rest Louk Sorensen
who was carrying a slight strain.
The Berkley University tennis scholarship student took full advantage
of the opportunity, hammering Andri Jonsson 6-0 6-0 in just 37 minutes.
For the top singles, the Icelanders decided to rest Arnar Sigurdsson,
who had shocked Sargsian on Wednesday. His replacement, 35-year-old
Raj Bonifacius, originally from California and a former US college
tennis adversary of Casey, tumbled to a 6-2 6-1 defeat by Kevin
Sorensen in just over an hour.
Niland also lined out in the doubles where he partnered David O'Connell
to a 6-2 6-1 rout of Jonsson and David Halldorsson in 48 minutes.
Iceland, meanwhile, will be joined in the relegation round robin
series by Nigeria, San Marino and Turkey, from which two countries
will drop down to Group Four.
Paddy HickeyDavis Cup
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Irish Independent; Jul 16, 2005
IRELAND'S Davis Cup team have set up a crucial promotion showdown
against Cyprus after Owen Casey's charges topped Pool A of the Group
Three Europe-Africa Zone with yesterday's 3-0 blitz of Iceland.
As a result, the host country will meet the Marcos Baghdatis-powered
Cypriat side, who finished as Pool B winners, in a four-strong
round-robin stage from which two countries will earn a valuable
promotion to Group Two of the Europe-Africa Zone. The other two
countries involved are Armenia and Tunisia. Ireland have already
played the Armenians, winning with another 3-0 whitewash, so their
final match on Sunday will be against Tunisia.
If the Irish lose to Cyprus, they will have to overcome the North
Africans to clinch a promotion place.
Baghdatis (20) is certainly going to prove a handful for Ireland, as he
was the top under-18 player in the world in 2003, and he is now placed
at a very respectable number 68 in the ATP singles world rankings.
Baghdatis also attracted some attention when he pushed the
all-conquering Roger Federer to four-sets in last year's US Open and
advanced to the fourth round of this year's Australian Open.
Kevin Sorensen is saddled with the unenviable task of facing
the dynamic Limassol right-hander but the Irish No 1 will draw
encouragement from the fact that he shocked Armenia's highly rated
Sargis Sargsian 6-3 6-3 on Thursday.
"It's going to be very difficult for me, but if I play to my maximum
I'll have a chance," said Kevin who will be facing the Cypriot for
the first time.
If the tie is still in the balance after the two singles, Baghdatis
is certain to play in the doubles, and that will add to Ireland's
difficulties.
Ireland's clean sweep of yesterday's opponents, a third straight win
of the week, offered the host country an opportunity to underline
the depth and strength of their squad. Conor Niland got the nod for
the number two singles slot with Casey deciding to rest Louk Sorensen
who was carrying a slight strain.
The Berkley University tennis scholarship student took full advantage
of the opportunity, hammering Andri Jonsson 6-0 6-0 in just 37 minutes.
For the top singles, the Icelanders decided to rest Arnar Sigurdsson,
who had shocked Sargsian on Wednesday. His replacement, 35-year-old
Raj Bonifacius, originally from California and a former US college
tennis adversary of Casey, tumbled to a 6-2 6-1 defeat by Kevin
Sorensen in just over an hour.
Niland also lined out in the doubles where he partnered David O'Connell
to a 6-2 6-1 rout of Jonsson and David Halldorsson in 48 minutes.
Iceland, meanwhile, will be joined in the relegation round robin
series by Nigeria, San Marino and Turkey, from which two countries
will drop down to Group Four.
Paddy HickeyDavis Cup
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress