Conor Gannon claims surprise home win in final of Irish Open

The Dubliner had grown up just “a pitching wedge” away from the club in South Dublin

Conor Gannon of Ireland celebrates winning the  2026 DLR Irish Open Men's singles final against Markus Molder of Estonia at Carrickmines Croquet & Lawn Tennis Club. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

There were close to three hours of tennis played when Conor Gannon put his hands to his face and dropped to his knees in Carrickmines on Sunday.

The 6' 1" right-hander had grown up just “a pitching wedge” away from the club in South Dublin and now here he was winning the DLR Irish Open final with a 7-6 6-7 6-4 against Estonia’s Markus Molder.

The win is a first in the tournament for an Irishman since Pete Bothwell managed it back in 2018. It is a first singles ITF title for Gannon who beat the fifth, third, second and seventh seeds on the way to what is a surprise success.

“Yes, it still hasn’t really sunk in yet,” he said on court afterwards. “It’s been a long time since an Irish person won this and I’m just so happy and proud of myself that its me that was able to do it. I kept believing and I kept pushing so I’m just absolutely over the moon.

It’s all the more notable for the fact that Gannon, ranked 480 in the world, had to survive three match points in the opening round against Lorenzo Lorusso. Molder, three years his junior at 21, had already accounted for Ireland’s Michael Agwi in the last eight.

Conor Gannon of Ireland during his Men's singles final against Markus Molder in Carrickmines Croquet & Lawn Tennis Club. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

There was very little in this one.

Gannon won the first tie break 7-5 and led 4-1 in the second only for the Estonian to recover, force another tie break which he won 7-3. That was a pivotal moment for the home favourite who admitted as much later.

“I had a chance in the second, didn’t get it, and it could have been very easy to come back out in the third set and be very flat and very deflated, but I tried my best to put my best foot forward and give myself the best chance of crossing the line.” Gannon felt the anxiety that comes with wanting that first title, and on home soil, but he countered it by cracking the odd joke with his coach and interacting with some of the crowd. The evidence suggest it worked.

So did his quick exit from the court after that second set as he looked to rest.

Gannon broke serve in the seventh game of the deciding set. The next two went with serve and an 18th ace of the day in the tenth set up a matchpoint and beautiful lob that gave the title to the man from down the road.