A courageous Conor Niland came up just short against Adrian Mannarino, but made a whole nation proud with his performance. Read on to see how it went down.
Wrap up:
Expect all makeshift tennis courts across the land to be crowded in the coming weeks, as Conor Niland’s courageous display is bound to reawaken the summer tennis trend that has suffered in this country in recent years.
Fair enough, he lost the last five games, but it has to be remembered that this guy is 126 places above him in the world rankings and for him to put up such a challenge is similar to Mannarino running Roger Federer equally as close when they go head to head later this week.
Niland produced some breathtakingly brilliant tennis at times and although it will be of little consolation to him for a while yet, he certainly made a whole nation proud with his exploits.
It didn’t finish quite the way we would have wanted, but God it was fun and exciting while it lasted. That’s all from us for now, folks. Thanks for tuning in.
Jesus, TG4 didn’t hang around after Niland’s game. As soon as it all comes to an end, they instantly switch to Djokovic v Chardy, although we understand that may have something to do with the demands of BBC etc. For the record, Niland got a mighty reception from all the Irish present at SW19 and he may have picked up a few new friends after a valiant effort.
And, it’s all over. Niland is brave and goes for the serve and volley, but his backhand volley is long and Mannarino wins it 4-6, 6-4, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4.
A brilliant effort from Conor Niland, though, who has captured the hearts and minds of Gaels at home and abroad with a courageous performance. Keep your head up son, you’ve made us all proud.
Match point Mannarino. Come on, Conor hold it together.
Istabraq says “Yep. Bananas all round,” in response to my fingers crossed reference. This is cover the eyes, edge of the seat territory for someone with even the mildest interest in tennis. 30-30 in game 10 so far.
1812:
An over ambitious forehand from Niland hands the game to Mannarino. Big, big game coming up. Can Conor hold his nerve?
But he’s certainly not going to give it up without a fight. 30-30 in game 9 of the fifth.
Disaster! Mannarino breaks back to level it at 4-4 in the fifth. Real test of Niland’s mettle if he’s going to pull it back from here. Fingers crossed.
Thanks to Shane and Will for all their work so far, Conor Heneghan here for what will hopefully be a glorious end to what has already been a memorable day so far.
Conor Heneghan is taking over to wind this down. Hopefully he’ll still be here when it’s 26 games all at 9pm.
And then the French dude holds his serve to close the gap to that single break. This could be Paris 2009 all over again…
Ah, cripes. Mannarino breaks back straight away. Niland still in the driving seat – just
Gulp. Did we speak too soon?
Niland falls 0-30 down immediately on his own serve. Maybe we all got a bit ahead of ourselves.
And there it is!
A double-break in the final set, and Conor Niland is on the verge of becoming the most famous non-rugby-playing, non-moustachioed, non-Hollywood-acting Limerick man there’s ever been.
Surely there’s no way back for Captain Mainwaring now?
Captain Mainwaring is struggling with his serve here. A double fault takes the game to deuce. If Conor can double-break here, and not in a Djibril Cissé sort of way, this could be all over.
Niland hammers down his 10th ace of the match to close out the game.
Six or eight more of them in the next half hour would be Sweet.
A massive cheer out at Court 17 as Niland battles brilliantly to break Mannarino’s serve in the third game of the final set. He’s now four service games away from a game against Roger Federer.
But these will be the longest four service games of his life…
Mannarino opens up with the first game of the final set, and he puts Niland’s service game in danger too with some good placement. But Niland seems to be hitting the ball even harder than he’s done all afternoon, and he gets it back to 30-30.
And with barely a hitch, he sees it out to draw level at two sets apiece. Brilliant stuff from Niland here. I think it’s fair to say, with Mannarino having been 1/3 to win this one from the outset, that the Limerick man has outdone himself here.
He’ll not be happy if he doesn’t see it out now, though.
Mannarino got that one out of the way easily enough, so now it’s Niland to serve for the set.
And then it’s into Mahut-Isner territory. Maybe.
That one turned into a bit of a struggle. Couple of break points to Mannarino, each one saved by Niland. He then had a chance to see it out but the Frenchman sent an unreturnable left hand down the line.
Two points later, though, and it’s game to Niland, who’s now one game away from taking this one to a fifth and final set.
Job déanta, indeed.
A line call goes against our man but he shows restraint not normally associated with Limerick folk by refusing to take issue with the umpire’s decision.
By the way, I was joking about the Limerick bit. I know lots of very restrained Limerick people.
Anyhoo, back to the tennis. Mannarino holds so it’s 4-3 with Niland’s serve to come.
And Niland is ceart go leor. He dusts himself down to reel off a couple of points and move 4-2 in front. Couple of big games coming up.
Niland hits the deck and stays down a fraction of a second too long.
But the Gaeilgeoir in the commentary box brings us back to our senses.
“Tá sé ceart go leor,” he says.
Thank Íosa for that.
Niland makes Mannarino fight all the way but the Frenchman eventually holds serve to 30. Conor still a break up here, though.
Incidentally, we’re talking about Mannarino so much that we’re starting to think of this guy.
Mannarino holds his serve but the Frenchman took his foot off the pedal after that tie-break, or Niland has stepped it up a gear on his own serve. Either way, Niland holds easily to restore the two-game gap.
And without a great deal of fuss, it’s 2-0. Sit tight, folks. There could be a few more bends and bumps in this one yet.
Remember those reserves of something I was rabbiting on about? Well, Niland has found them from somewhere. He breaks in the first game of the fourth set.
Unbelievable stuff.
To which the answer is a short, sharp ‘No’.
Mannarino leads 2-1 in sets. The effort there could have taken a serious amount out of our man. Can he find some untapped reserves of, er, whatever you need in reserve to win in five sets at Wimbledon?
Ah, crumbs. It’s too early in the day for stronger language. Niland finds the net with a backhand to see his fifth set point slide past, and Mannarino goes 8-7 in front. Now, can Conor save the set again?
And there’s a fifth set point on the way for Niland. But this time it’s on the Frenchman’s serve.
But for the fourth time this set, he’s unable to take the opportunity. Six games all, six points all, another change of ends. This is a cracker.
Rarely has a double fault been cheered so much. Set point Niland, on his serve.
Oh. Serious rush of blood to t’head there. Chance to make it 5-3 but Niland hits it beyond the base-line. Never mind, though, he wins the next one. Niland 5-4 up, Mannarino serving. He makes it 5-5.
… Niland gets the mini-break to go 4-3 up.
C’mon lad, you can do it!
Mannarino pulls that one back with a big serve. 3-3 at the change of ends. The Frenchman seems to have the bigger serve, but…
This one’s flying by already. It’s 3-2 Niland, so the tiebreak is going with serve so far…
Another set point goes a-begging as Mannarino digs in deep. And it’s Tiebreak Time!
But he hardly gets a sniff of a chance and Mannarino has it back at deuce. Good pressure here from Niland, though.
Woud you believe it? He must’ve been reading his tweets. Niland comes to the net and finds another drop shot winner to give himself two set points!
Massive moment here…
And Niland holds with his most comfortable service game of the set. He leads 6-5, and all the pressure’s on Mannarino now. Best he can hope for is a tie-break.
There ain’t many Frenchies out on Court 17 by the sounds of it. The place has gone batty as Niland ends a 16-shot rally by cracking a winner cross-court. He takes a knee, smiles and laps up the applause. 5-5 in the second.
Which he blows by getting over-anxious on the Frenchman’s second serve. Deuce it is.
Another lung-bursting rally ends with Niland on the right side of it, and the Limerick man has a break point to save the set.
Another trip to the net, another daintily volleyed winner from Niland. I think I’ve his game-plan sussed. Wonder if he reads his tweets between games?
“@conorniland1 Conor, get to the net. You’re welcome.”
Sorry for that, folks. Bit of a leftover from November 2009.
Crack. Whack. Bang
Mannarino gives himself three set points, but wouldn’t you know it? Niland hits back brilliantly to win five points on the trot, including two aces, to hold serve.
Great stuff, Conor. Make ‘im earn it, the daft frog.
Mannarino holds his serve to move just one game away from the third set. Niland is hanging in there, but he needs to hang in there a little bit more if the match isn’t to slip away from him.
Or, we should’ve said, we hoped the breaks of serve had dried up.
Niland manages just one point on his serve as Mannarino goes a break up again.
And suddenly the breaks of serve have dried up. Mannarino holds to love.
Right back atcha, Conor. Or whatever that might be in French.
Great battling from Niland. It looked like another break of serve on the cards when he fell 0-30 behind but he produced some great stuff, including his fourth ace of the match, to hold on.
Four points in a row for Niland, culminating in a dazzling, all-or-nothing pass down the line, and he has another precious break.
That’s four breaks of serve in a row now. Receiving is the new serve, so to speak.
We’ve checked the stats, and they say Niland has won 83% of the time he’s come to the net. I’d be charging in there at every opportunity.
But maybe that’s too simplistic.
But wait.
Mannarino breaks back. And it would’ve been even easier but for an overrule from the umpire, which had Mannarino staring in the direction of the man in the over-sized baby seat. Not a “F***” or a “Merde” out of the Frenchman, never mind a smashed racquet. Those were the days, eh, Jeff Tarango?
But wait.
Niland has found a new lease of life, and he’s forced an immediate chance to break back…
…which he does!
Cracking stuff, Conor.
Good pro-Irish noise around Court 17. The support for Niland couldn’t be doing much more.
Apart from maybe darting on and aiming a sly kick at the nether regions of our latest pantomime villain Frenchman.
First game of the third set, and it’s a topsy-turvy one for Niland. He serves his second and third aces of the match, but also throws in an untimely double fault and Mannarino eventually breaks after a series of deuces. Don’t mistake me for an expert, but things are becoming a bit of a struggle for Conor out there.
“Agus an dara set go Mannarino.”
I think I know what that means. It’s level out on Court 17.
Looks like we’re going to be tearing up those “12/1 Niland to win 3-0” dockets. A couple of good lobs from Mannarino puts him 40-15 in front. Two set points…
And there’s the break. Mannarino came to the net on the back of a decent approach and Niland’s attempted cross-court pass flew the wrong side of the tram-line. Mannarino to serve for the set now.
Two good serves hauls it back but Mannarino wins two points, including a double fault, so it’s another break point.
Uh-oh. Looks like I came at a bad time. It’s 30-40 and break point to Mannarino.
Will has darted off for the day now. Well, s’pose he deserves a bit of time off, he’s been working since shortly after midnight. On Friday.
Anyway, it’s me, Shane Breslin, with you for the rest of this one. Mannarino held serve so it’s the crucial ninth game of the set – and Niland bounced back from an unforced error with a fine volleyed winner. 15-15.
That was as straightforward a game as you’ll get. Niland back in pole position for the set. It’s now 6-4, 4-3.
A worry: Niland is catching up on Mannarino on unforced errors. It’s 18-10 in favour of France on that count though. This set just levelled by Mannarino.
And there she is. No let up from Niland and no sign of a gulf in class, although there’s 131 places in the rankings between these two. Niland the 184th best in the world. 6-4, 3-2 to Niland.
This game is going on for an age. We’re at deuce again and this kind of hard-hitting play must be seriously draining on both players.
For a moment, Niland’s ggod work was undone with a double fault but it’s advantage the Irishman again. Finish him.
Advantage Niland.
Two break points for Mannarino now. But Niland isn’t letting him away with it. Powerful first serve forces Mannarino to hit the net and then a stunner sends the dust flying off the line for deuce. Terrific.
Let’s hope that was just a momentary slip of concentration. A couple of errors lead to him going 0-30 down, but he’s back with a smashing shot. 15-30, work to do.
2-2 in the second set, Mannarino took it handy enough.
Game Niland. 6-4, 2-1. It’s so clear that he’s done his homework on the world no 53. Forcing him into sticky positions and playing on weaknesses. Let’s not jump the gun… but it is very exciting to think an Irishman has a massive chance of going up against Federer.
Andrew Carey on Twitter: “c’mon conor” in a great big limerick accent is all you hear from crowd. Waiting for a “das limerick citttteeeee kid”
It’s 30-30 now in this game.
13 winners from Niland so far today… just three from Mannarino. Starting to paint a picture alright. But the Frenchman takes a game back, it’s 1-1 in the second set.
And that’s game. He doesn’t hang around at all, does he. 6-4, 1-0 to Niland.
Coasting in first game of second set, Niland 40-0 up.
He’s got the shots in him, he’s starting to believe he can do it and Mannarino looks a worried man sitting down now. The crowd are getting more boisterous all the time.
FIRST SET NILAND!
Oh man. Mannarino saves a seventh break point. Crept over the net that one did, lucky fecker.
Damn it. Back to deuce. Come on Conor, now is your chance.
Here we go. Niland making Mannarino work, and it’s 15-40. Two set points…
Game Niland. 5-4 in his favour. Near enough on cruise control when serving. Get this – unforced errors: Mannarino 12, Niland 2.
Alas, Mannarino levels it up yet again at 4-4. Could be a five setter on our hands. I’d safley say 85% of the supporters are cheering on Niland. He’s 30-0 up in the ninth.
It’s 30-30 and squeaky bum time for Mannarino in this set.
Pick it out. Niland hammers it for the opening point of this game.
Get in there. 4-3 to Niland and he hasn’t done much wrong so far. Apart from the three break points in the fourth game. Irish bias aside, I can see him breaking Mannarino soon. The Frenchie looks a bit rattled and off form.
Incredible rally! Knew it would come eventually as Niland pumps his fist after going 30-0 ahead in the seventh.
Finally, Mannarino scrapes it. 3-3 after 26 minutes played.
Deuce for what? The fourth time now in the sixth. Niland has pulled out a couple of excellent forehand shots. But will he be able to break Mannarino?
Back to deuce. Niland looks really fired up now. Is it too late to get down to the bookies? I really think he could beat this guy.
A great rally but Mannarino has advantage. The Frenchman is making so many mistakes out there. Niland must punish more.
Break point for Niland here now….
Oh that was sweet. A lovely lofty backhand from Niland to steal a point. And another beauty! He’s 30-15 ahead in this one.
No double faults and no double errors from Niland so far. Same can’t be said for his opponent, with four unforced errors and one double fault. Mannarino to serve in the sixth.
Both of these guys are well able to toss it about. Expect some good rallies to come as the match wears on… and Niland just clinches the fifth. 3-2 now to the Limerick man in the first set.
It’s 30-30 in the fifth game. Hold it together now Conor.
And the Frenchie levels the game 2-2. Shame that. A great chance for Niland to break away. He looks in great shape though, it has to be said. He’s serving now.
Oh no, deuce. Mannarino with three on the trot.
Three break points now for Niland. Go on ya good thing.
And that’s the first time a point has be broken. Niland with a deadly shot on the baseline and another cracker down the line. 0-30 Niland.
Boom. It’s there. 2-1 to Niland. Catch our breath after that. They’re flaking it past each other.
Serious grunting out of the Irishman, slightly unnerving actually. 40-0 ahead in the third game.
1-1 and it’s rapid fire stuff. Both players holding their serve perfectly. Come on Conor!
30-0 to Mannarino in the second game. Nice crowd at the tight Court 17.
We’re on and sorry about this but Niland is already a game to the good. TG4 missed the first few minutes. 1-0 and Mannarino has scored yet.
If my Irish serves me correctly, the TG4 commentator on the Serena Williams match has just said, “we will be going live to Court 17 for Conor Niland’s match in just a moment.” Niland Abú!
And that’s it, a clean sweep in the final set for Paznek. Done and dusted with the ladies – bring on the lads.
By the way, if you’re a betting man, Betfair go 1/3 Mannarino, 11/4 Niland and 12/1 Niland to win 3-0
Yep, we’re speeding along nicely to Ireland v France at Wimbledon. It’s 4-0 to Paszek in this ladies’ singles first round. Niland has, reportedly, the intro to Where The Streets Have No Name and The Ace of Spades blaring in his dressing room. Get in the groove and all, you know.
The action is underway on Court 17, but hold your whistle, it’s Paszek v Morita playing out the last few games of their final set. It’s one set a piece with Pazek leadin 2-0 in the final set and serving, so we shouldn’t be waiting too long for Niland-Mannarino. For now though, here‘s some homework I did earlier on the Limerick man.
That one has just finished, so it’s the girls from Japan and Austria next. It’s at 2-0 to Paszek in the final set, so it could be finished fairly soon. Then it’s the boy from Limerick against the Thierry-Henry-like-hate-figure from France. Boo, Mannarino, boo…
Petrova is serving it out for the match at 5-4 in the second set. Honestly, never thought I’d see the day I would be live-blogging about a Wimbledon first round match between two unseeded Russians. At Flancare Park.
Next up is the completion of another women’s – or should we say ladies – singles first round match between Ayumi Morita of Japan and the Czech Republic’s Tamira Paszek. They’re in the final set there. All told, it’s looking like Niland-Mannarino will get under way shortly after 2pm.
Incidentally, the first match at Flancare/Court 17 looks like it’s drawing to a close. Nadia Petrova, the Russian, is closing in on a straight sets victory over Vesna Dolonts, the Russian.
Ah, here we are.
No offence to Longford folk, but Croker to Flancare is about right.
Niland-Mannarino is the third match due on Court 17 this afternoon. Incidentally, to get some idea of the correlation of capacity, atmosphere and location between Centre Court and Court 17, think something like Croke Park and Flancare Park and you get the picture.
