Agwi pain hurts Ireland as Syria confirm Davis Cup drop

On Sunday, Michael Agwi fell short of Taym Al Azmeh as he struggled for the sort of form that had set the UL Arena alight in 2024

A general view of the doubles match between Conor Gannon and Charlie Barry of Ireland against Taym Alazmeh and Hazem Naw of Syria on day two of the Davis Cup World Cup Group II play-off match between Ireland and Syria at UL Arena in Limerick. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

To play, or not to play? With all apologies to the Bard, that really is the question, and more than we can ever know.

For most of us, the sight of a player or an athlete on a pitch or a start line is taken as a clean bill of health. We take it for granted that the person performing in front of us, or in technicolour on TV, is fully fit. Shades of grey, or the lingering black cloud of injury, rarely enter our heads.