Determined Glancy puts Goodall out

MAYO’S Daniel Glancy made it a memorable second day on the trot for home players in the Green Property Irish Men’s Open at Fitzwilliam yesterday.

Following Dubliner John Morrissey’s shock win over Georgia’s 1,235-ranked Lazare Kukhalashvili on Monday, Glancy yesterday dumped out top seed, Britain’s Josh Goodall.

Glancy entered his opening round contest against Goodall rank outsider, positioned almost 600 places behind his opponent in the world rankings.. But the 976-ranked Castlebar native showed that heart and determination can go a long way towards offsetting a considerable rankings deficit as he ensured that 379-ranked Goodall’s name would not be figuring in the draw for the second round.

The top seed did have to retire because of a hip flexor problem, but that did little to tarnish the achievement of his Castlebar opponent who prevailed 6-4 5-1. Glancy, a former national U18 singles champion and winner of the Irish Close earlier this month, plays regularly on the ITF Futures Tour, even venturing as far as Iran for a tournament.

The Mayoman’s reward is a second round showdown with another Briton, 787-ranked Daniel Cox, who yesterday eliminated Zimbabwe’s Taranyi Garanganga 6-4 6-4.

Dubliner Colin O’Brien joined Glancy in the second round, but the fine run of Carlow’s Tommy Murphy is over. Malahide left-hander O’Brien, the No 8 seed, had to battle hard to beat 18-year-old French qualifier Albano Olivetti 7-5 7-6 (7/4).

O’Brien, a practice partner for Ireland’s recent Davis Cup clash with Lithuania, next takes on Malta’s 924-ranked Matthew Asciak who won 6-4 6-0 against Murphy, a shock winner over Slovakia’s world No 1,166 Marko Danis in the second round of qualifying.