Ireland battle gamely but Thiem and Austria take commanding Davis Cup lead

TOP COMPETITOR: Dominic Thiem of Austria, right, and Michael Agwi of Ireland after their singles match on day one of the Davis Cup World Group I Play-off 1st Round match between Ireland and Austria at UL Sport Arena. Pic: Brendan Moran, Sportsfile

Ireland battled gamely against Austria in their Davis Cup tie in Limerick on Saturday, but the World Group I playoff is now all but beyond Conor Niland’s team as they head into Sunday’s last three matches facing a 2-0 deficit.

The Austrians boasted former world number three Dominic Thiem and current number 40 Sebastian Ofner for the opening pair of singles games and both ultimately proved too strong for Michael Agwi and Osgar O’Hoisin respectively.

Neither Irishman let themselves, or a crowd of 2,400, down at the sold-out UL Arena but the vast difference in rankings told on both occasions in what was the first Davis Cup tie played on home soil since 2015.

Agwi was coming off his first ever ‘Futures’ final in Germany last month. 

In Thiem, he faced a player who had just split with a second coach since April of last year and one struggling to rediscover the heights from when he was US Open champion and winning 17 ATP titles.

It was still an enormous ask.

It started perfectly for the hosts, with an Agwi ace and some superb tennis through the opening six games which all went to serve. 

Twice Thiem broke in the first set, twice Agwi broke back immediately, his fist pumping geeing up the crowd even further.

The Dublin-born 20-year-old eventually found himself 6-3 up in a tie break but failed to close the deal against a struggling opponent who just about pulled through with five straight points. 

It felt like a turn of enormous importance for Thiem, and for the tie at large.

Agwi was broken on his first service game in the second set but there was no crumble. He instead held on to the Austrian’s coattails all the way to the finish, the match eventually settling in the visitors’ favour on a score of 7-6 6-3 after one hour, 46 minutes.

If there was a case of what-might-have-been then it didn’t dilute the impact made by the Berlin-based Agwi who found himself swamped for selfies and signatures by a rapturous crowd before the day’s second game.

“His service is phenomenal,” said Thiem afterwards. 

“Also, other parts of his game really good too.” 

The second game was more straightforward. O’Hoisin did have break points to go 2-0 up in the first but Ofner managed that and came through the opening set 6-4 without any further flutters. The second ended 6-4 as well.

Those singles pairings will be swapped on Sunday but the day’s action will start with Ireland’s Connor Gannon and David O’Hare facing the highly-rated duo of Alexander Erler and Lucas Meidler in the doubles.

“I think we have a great chance in the doubles and maybe this tie isn’t done yet,” said O’Hoisin before engaging with the same swarm of fans courtside.