Conor Niland: Davis Cup tie in Limerick a 'brilliant opportunity' for Irish tennis public

Ireland's Davis Cup captain Conor Niland believes next February's home tie against Austria will give the sport a potentially huge platform in this country.

On 3-4 February, Ireland will host an Austria team set to feature 2020 US Open winner and former world number three Dominic Thiem in a play-off with the aim of qualifying for World Group I, the second tier of the Davis Cup.

Taking place at a sold-out UL Arena in Limerick, it will be the first home tie for the Irish since 2015 and will be just over 40 years on from the only occasion when Ireland played at the elite top tier level when they took on John McEnroe's USA in a relegation play-off at Dublin's RDS.

Niland, who retired in 2012 after a seven-year professional career, serves in the non-playing team captain role that will select the final squad of five players and he told RTÉ Sport that February could have a positive knock-on effect especially if they can pull off a shock result against Austria.

"From a draw perspective for a World Group 1 playoff, it's a tough ask because the (Irish) team that hasn't played in the last couple of years will probably play this tie, but (it's) a massive opportunity for us and just a brilliant opportunity for the Irish tennis public to watch some truly world class players playing, supporting their home team and hopefully we can upset them," he said.

Niland, who grew up in Limerick, also outlined how his hometown came to be the venue for the tie as well as the notable interest which saw 3,000 tickets purchased within hours of going on sale earlier this month.

"We had some options and they said, 'Let's do it, let's go for UL'. It's something a little bit different. There was a little bit of a risk involved. We didn't know what the take-up of