Tennis:Ireland's Conor Niland secured his first win in a Grand Slam qualifying event today with a 6-0 6-4 victory over 34-year-old Australian Joseph Sirianni that leaves him two matches away from the US Open proper.
The first of those will be tomorrow against Colombian Alejandro Falla, who beat Indian Prakash Amritraj in three sets, is seeded 31st in the qualifiers and ranked 159th in the world.
Having beaten a player ranked 240th, Niland (402nd) must now go a step further if he is to face either Roko Karanusic (111th) of Croatia or South African Izak Van Der Merwe (297th) for a place in the last 16 and qualification for Monday’s main draw.