Tennis Ireland is to address the continuing problem of the unavailability of US-based scholarship players, which is seen to be having a detrimental effect on the national sides as crucial Davis Cup and Federation Cup matches beckon.

More support for home-based third-level scholarships may be the way forward, and Tennis Ireland have put plans in train to ask for the support of the Minister for Sport, Jim McDaid in this regard. The Irish selectors have had to leave out key players for both Davis Cup and Fed Cup internationals next month. John Doran, a final year student at Harvard University is exam-tied and George Mc Gill and Tommy Hamilton are also unavailable for the Davis Cup game against Slovenia.

Scott Barron, having just recovered from a long lay-off because of an ankle injury, and Owen Casey will again lead the Irish challenge, with debutants Robert Collins and David Mullins providing the options at three and four respectively. Collins is a younger brother of former Davis Cup star Eoin, and Mullins is a nephew of former GAA All Star Brian Mullins. The match is fixed for Riverview on April 30th to May 1st and 2nd.

The women's team for the Fed Cup qualifying rounds in Spain on April 26th to 30th will be badly hit by the absence of Claire Curran, who is tied up with studies at the University of California at Berkerley. Spanish-based circuit player Kelly Liggan comes in at number one for the first time since been cleared to play for Ireland, with Gina Niland at two. Yvonne Doyle and Karen Nugent return following injury and illness respectively to fill the number three and four places.