Tennis: Owen Casey's prescience in recalling John Doran to Ireland's Davis Cup cause proved a masterstroke as the home side conjured an unlikely 4-1 victory over Egypt at Fitzwilliam yesterday.
Doran, 24 years old, had abandoned the life of a tennis professional in favour of the more sedate and profitable environment of merchant bankers Morgan Stanley in London but was persuaded by Casey to shoulder Irish expectations in the absence of number one Peter Clarke.
The Harvard graduate responded with three victories in as many days to confound the accepted wisdom and expectation that Egypt, based on the respective world rankings, would ultimately emerge victorious from the tie.
Saturday's fare undoubtedly had a huge influence on the outcome, the Irish partnership of Doran and David Mullins easily dismissing the challenge of the Maamoun cousins Karim and Mohamed 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 to provide Ireland with a 2-1 lead and the impetus going into yesterday's reverse singles.
Doran was first on court, staring down Mohamed Maamoun, conqueror of Stephen Nugent in Friday's second singles. The tension of the occasion was manifest as both players dropped serve early in the first set before settling to grind their way to a tie-break. The Irishman seized the initiative, was a little more aggressive on his ground strokes, and prevailed 7-3.
The vociferous crowd cranked up the volume and Maamoun's resolve wilted just enough for Doran to snatch the crucial break in the eight game of the set. The Egyptian wasn't making much headway against the Irishman's serve while Doran was rarely troubled in holding his own. It ensured that Maamoun had to work harder, mentally and physically, just to stay in touch.
To his credit, he didn't buckle but his Irish opponent offered him little respite and when he broke in the 11th game of the set, Doran was on the threshold of completing a great day for Irish tennis. Serving for the match and the tie, the Irishman was largely foot perfect, forcing his opponent into flailing desperation by dominating the rallies, behind his serve.
Afterwards a smiling Doran analysed the afternoon. "The guy served nearly as big as I did but I felt that I was bigger off the ground. I tried to attack from the back of the court. It's the best Davis Cup tie in which I've been involved.
"All week the preparation has been excellent. Owen got us to practise doubles every morning and that proved crucial. It was a huge difference to be 2-1 up going into the singles."
Casey paid tribute to Doran's patience, the fact that he didn't let the frustration of getting close to breaking Maamoun's serve on several occasions without completing the deal prey upon his mind.
It was a special occasion for Casey, standing in as non-playing captain for the unavailable Peter Wright. Having guided Ireland's women to qualify from the zone in which they have played for the last nine years, he can now look back with tremendous satisfaction on his contribution this week, not least in turning to Doran.
A great afternoon was completed when Sean Cooper, handed a Davis Cup debut in the final dead rubber - reduced to three sets - beat Karim Maamoun 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. Ireland will now play Greece, although there remains a little confusion over where the tie will be played.
Ireland beat Egypt 4-1: Saturday: Doubles: J Doran and D Mullins (Ireland) bt K Maamoun and M Maamoun (Egypt) 7-5, 6-1, 6-2. Yesterday: Singles: J Doran (Ireland) by M Maamoun 7-6, 6-3, 7-5; S Cooper (Ireland) bt K Maamoun (Egypt) 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
