Tennis Ireland announced on Tuesday details of the Irish team for the Davis Cup tie against Eygpt from April 4 to April 6. The team is David Mullins, Stephen Nugent, Sean Cooper and John Doran.
Owen Casey takes over the role of non-playing captain for the Egypt tie; Owen first played Davis Cup for Ireland in 1988. The Egyptian team will arrive in Ireland on 31st March. Their top players are Karim and Mohammed Maamoun who are ranked 400th and 700th respectively on the ATP ranking lists.
The Irish team will compete in this tie without the national number one Peter Clarke. Clarke has been suspended for the Egypt tie following a Tennis Ireland disciplinary process arising from the Slovenia tie in July 2002. Irish team captain Owen Casey nevertheless feels an Irish victory is possible.
“This is probably our most inexperienced Davis Cup Team in recent years. Three of our players are still in the early stages of their professional careers, but I think that we have a trump card in John Doran. While John no longer plays full time, he was inside the top 500 in the world just six months ago. I am certain he can do a job for us and I feel that the fast indoor courts at Fitzwilliam will swing things back in our favour," said Casey.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
