Relegation from Division Two back to basement obscurity in the men's European team championship was the bitter reality for Ireland at the Belfast indoor tennis arena on Saturday.
Defeat by Denmark followed a whitewash by Spain. The only aspect to savour was the generally precocious displays by John Doran, especially his victory over the talented Dane, Patrik Langvardt. Unfortunately, Scott Barron, the Ireland number one, had his fingers on the self-destruct button throughout the weekend.
Doran's success provided Ireland's only win in six matches. His 3-6 7-6 6-2 victory came in just over two hours." I am really pleased with that" said the Harvard University team member. "I have changed my game to strictly serve and volley."
A combination of Doran's resilience and Langvardt's astonishing reaction to an umpire's decision that denied him a point in the second set tie-break turned the final set into a formality.
Still infuriated, Langvardt played three double faults when opening the set and Doran was 4-0 up in 16 minutes. Doran, having lost the first set by being broken once, served for the match in the eighth game of the decider after 29 minutes and won it to love.
Scott Barron's worse lapse in concentration, or whatever, was highlighted after he led tall left hander Dane Jonaton Printziau 5-2 in the first set. Serving for the set, he went 0-40 down. He recovered to forge two set points but in the end gave it away with a double fault. The Dane, assisted by a more extensive repertoire of shot, took the tie break 7-4.
Success for Barron and Tommy Hamilton in the doubles was always going to be of vital importance if the bid to avoid relegation was to be sustained but the Danish pair, taking the first set 6-0 in 18 minutes, swept to victory
Ireland 1, Denmark 2 (S Barron lost to J Printziau 6-7 (4-7) 2-6, J Doran bt P Langvardt 3-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-2; Barron and T Hamilton lost to Langvardt and Printziau 0-6 5-7.
Spain 2, Denmark 0 (M Gorriz bt Langvardt 4-6 6-2 6-2, T Carbonell bt Printziau 5-7 6-2 6-2; doubles noy played. Spain promoted, Denmark remain in Division Two, Ireland relegated.
