Sorensen back with a bang in Italy

IRELAND’S Louk Sorensen marked his return to action following a three-month injury lay-off with a first round win in the ATP Challenger Tour event in Biella, Italy.

The 229-ranked Irish No 2 clinched a second round place in the outdoor claycourt tournament near Turin with a 3-6 7-6 (7/1) 6-4 win over Italy’s 237-ranked Andrea Arnobaldi. Today, unseeded Sorensen, who missed Ireland’s Davis Cup win over Turkey in Dublin last March, because of his hamstring injury, takes on unseeded Belgian Yannick Mertens, who shocked the No 4 seed, Jamaica’s Dustin Brown, 6-4 7-5 in his first round match.

Sorensen’s Davis Cup teammate Colin O’Brien also booked a second round place – in the ITF Futures event at Newcastle, England.

The Malahide left-hander recovered from a below-par first set performance to edge Britain’s Richard Gabb 4-6 6-0 6-4, to set up a showdown with the top seed, Britain’s John Goodall, who has been ranked as high as 184 in July 2009.

O’Brien’s fellow Dubliner Barry King crashed out in the first round, with No 2 Eric Prodon of France coming through 6-1 6-2.