A FULL-HOUSE is expected to be in attendance for this weekend’s historic Davis Cup fixture between Ireland and Austria at the UL Arena.
Unprecedented for modern times, 3,000 tickets were sold within a couple of hours of going on sale in December and a more recent batch of 1,700 were also quickly snapped up last month.
“We went out of our way to make the match affordable, with tickets costing only €20,” said Tennis Ireland Chief Executive Kevin Quinn.
“The response has been truly phenomenal. I think it’s evidence of two things – first of all, the traditional tennis community’s pent-up demand for a home Davis Cup fixture, but also of the growing popularity of our great sport with a whole new cohort of players.”
On the enthusiasm around the tie, Team Ireland captain and Limerick man Conor Niland commented: “This is fantastic news for the players. They were already delighted at the prospect of competing in an arena like the one in UL.”
“Now they know for sure they will be doing so in front of a full house. It will be huge for them and I can guarantee their total commitment to providing a stiff challenge to what will be world-class opposition.”
The Ireland team is that of Osgar O’Hoisin, Michael Agwi, Conor Gannon, David O’Hare, and Simon Carr.
“I really believe these players have the mentality and mindset needed to get us a win,” insisted Niland, a past performer at the US Open and Wimbledon.
Former world number three Dominic Thiem is likely to be in action for the visitors.
There will be two singles on Saturday, with a doubles and two further singles being played on Sunday. The winning team will progress to the World Group I of Davis Cup competition.
