Niland sets up crunch Wimbledon qualifier

Ireland's No.1 ranked tennis player Conor Niland's fighting spirit was again in evidence in London yesterday when he fought back against the odds to keep his 2011 Wimbledon dream alive.

Trailing one set to love to Australian Greg Jones, Niland rallied to win 4/6, 7/5, 6/2 in his second round qualifying match to set up a deciding tie against the world number 274, Nikola Mektic from Croatia.

Niland displayed great courage against the Australian, who was supported courtside by his compatriot and 2001 Wimbledon finalist Pat Rafter, to maintain an Irish interest in this year's Wimbledon Championships.

The Irish Davis Cup star came back from a 4/6, 4/5 deficit to storm home and secure a place in the lucrative last qualifying round for the Wimbledon main draw.

A win against Mektic will see the 29-year-old Limerickman, ranked world number 187, qualify for a Grand Slam event for the first time in his career.