Ireland will have two players in tomorrow's quarter-final line-up for the Shelbourne Men's Irish Open Tennis Championships at Fitzwilliam after magnificent wins for both Conor Niland and Louk Sorensen.
Niland saved three match points on his way to a thrilling 4/6, 6/4, 7/6(4) win over Slovakia's Grega Zemlja.
In front of an enthralled home crowd Niland and his opponent produced tennis of a standard befitting of players in the world's top 50 as their battle swung both ways before the Limerickman prevailed in a tense final set tie break.
Niland saved two match points at 2/5 down and one more at 3/5 in the deciding set and will now play Sweden's Bjorn Rehnquist in Thursday's quarter-final.
Earlier Sorensen was too strong for American Brendan Evans, winning 6/3, 6/2.
Peter Clarke was unable to make it a trio of Irish players in the last eight as he battled well in tough conditions before going down in straight sets, 6/4, 6/4, to Colin Ebelthite from Australia.
Both Niland and Sorensen take centre stage tomorrow with Sorensen on court at 1pm while Niland again plays in the evening session at 6pm.
Entry to the Shelbourne Irish Open is free for the duration of the
competition.
