Preview | Ireland v China
With the Chinese no.2 absent, Conor Niland's side hope to pull off an upset in Abbotstown
After the side’s convincing 5-0 play-off win over Saudi Arabia in February, Ireland face China this weekend in round one of World Group II. For the first time, the home team will compete at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena.
While the visitors have higher rankings across the board, Conor Niland will be encouraged by the absence of the Chinese no.2, Zhizhen Zhang. Zhang, who has been ranked as high as no.31 in the world, missed most of the season with a shoulder problem and pulled out on the eve of the tie.
China’s captain Di Wu has still been able to call on Yunchaokete Bu, his nation’s highest ranked player at no.74. While Bu has had a disappointing season in terms of wins (11-24), he has still recorded victories over Stefanos Tsitsipas, David Goffin and Fabio Fognini. The Chinese side also contains Fajing Sun (no.236), Jie Cui (no.294) and Yi Zhou (no.301).
Ireland’s team comprises the Irish no.1, Michael Agwi (no.522), Conor Gannon (no. 1583), Ammar Elamin (no.1615, David O’Hare, and for the first time, Peter Buldorini (no.920). 21-year-old Buldorini, who was born in Italy but has a mother from Carrick-on-Shannon, signed up for Ireland in February.
Saturday’s play starts at midday with the first singles set to be Buldorini against Bu. Buldorini comes into the weekend with some confidence after reaching the final of the Allershausen M15 in Germany. As for Bu, the 23-year-old lost in the opening round of the US Open but did make the last eight in Winston-Salem in August.
Ireland’s captain Conor Niland thinks opening the play may help Buldorini on his debut for the country.
"It's great that Peter can come out with a bit of a blank slate and have a go at Bu. It's obviously Peter's first ever match, his first tie, and he's leading us out. In some ways, some of the nervous energy can build up if you're waiting around. So it might be good for him just to get out there and play."
The second singles features the star of Limerick, Michael Agwi against Yi Zhou. After a tricky start to the season, which you can read about in my exclusive interview, the Irishman has hit form recently and won an M15 in Germany after his run to the Irish Open final. 20-year-old Zhou sits around his career high and enjoyed some good weeks on the Challenger circuit at Tyler (final) and Winnipeg (SF) this summer.
In between the reverse singles, Niland has selected Conor Gannon and David O’Hare to play the doubles rubber against Fajing Sun and Jie Cui. Sun may be one to watch over the weekend as he has won his last three Davis Cup matches across singles and doubles.
"I think the doubles is important,' says Niland. "If you look at the rankings on the single side, it looks on paper like it's a tough task even though I think we've got a great chance. I feel like Dave and Conor, when they're playing their best tennis, give us as a country the highest ceiling we can on a tennis court in doubles at any one time. And that's why they're out there. If we win the doubles, it means the tie is still alive."
In front of 1,600 fans, the Irish team will hope to replicate the boisterous atmosphere of last year’s tie with Austria. While that contest ended in a 4-0 defeat, Niland hopes the players can really enjoy the occasion in Abbotstown.
"I hope they're loose enough to enjoy it and get the crowd into it and express themselves. I mean, that's kind of all I want to see. I'm not putting any pressure on them to do anything that they can't do. I just want them to enjoy and have a good attitude and approach to the match mentally. Then I think the tennis kind of follows from that."
Day one of the tie between Ireland and China starts at noon on Saturday. If you haven’t nabbed a ticket, both days will be broadcast on Premier Sports.
This article was written in partnership with Tennis Ireland.
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