SIMON CARR HAS been named in Ireland’s Davis Cup squad for the first time this morning as captain Conor Niland included five debutants for February’s tie against Denmark.
The 17-year-old, who reached the last 16 at the junior US Open in September, has been rewarded for a stellar year which also saw him advance to the semi-finals of the AIG Irish Open in 2017.
Carr is named in a new-look Ireland team alongside Peter Bothwell, Osgar O’Hoisin, Julian Bradley and Sam Bothwell for the Euro/Africa Zone Group II first round game in Copenhagen on 3 and 4 February.
Ireland were promoted to Group II last year after beating Bulgaria in a play-off but Niland has been unable to select three players who played an important role in that successful campaign, with James McGee currently taking time out of tennis, Sam Barry opting to focus on ranking events and David O’Hare planning on defending his title at the Challenger event in Dallas.
“We have four new caps on this five-man team and I know that this team are really excited about representing their country in Davis Cup,” Niland said.
“I am really looking forward to competing again in Group II and working with this young enthusiastic team who are really excited about the challenge against Denmark.”
The tie against Denmark will be the first where the new Davis Cup trials will come into effect with play now taking place over two days and the best of three sets.
The new format will see two singles matches played on the first day, and the doubles match followed by the two reverse singles matches on the second day. Teams can nominate five players to play in the tie.
Tennis Ireland chief executive Richard Fahey added: “We have selected an excellent young team for the tie against Denmark and all are extremely honored to be representing their Country in the Davis Cup competition. Obviously Denmark is a tough draw and especially as it is an away tie but we are looking forward to supporting the team as they head out to Denmark under the guidance of Conor Niland.”
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