Three thousand tickets for next February’s Davis Cup Tennis match between Ireland and Austria sold out yesterday morning in a two-hour window after they went on sale.
Tennis Ireland is now investigating with UL about the provision of additional capacity.
“We went out of our way to make the match affordable, with tickets costing only €20, and now we are also going to go out of our way to make it available to more fans,” said Tennis Ireland CEO Kevin Quinn.
“I will be meeting with UL to discuss capacity and I expect that in early January we will be able to confirm the installation of more seating and a further release of tickets.”
“The response has been truly phenomenal. Since the match was announced our phones have been hopping, but this morning’s quick sell-out was amazing. I think it’s evidence of two things – first of all, the traditional tennis community’s pent-up demand for a home Davis Cup fixture, but also of the growing popularity of our great sport with a whole new cohort of players.”
The Ireland-Austria Davis Cup match will be played on February 3rd and 4th in the UL Arena, Limerick.
There will be two singles on Saturday 3rd, with a doubles and two further singles being played on Sunday 4th. The winning team will progress to World Group I.
The Austrian team will provide Ireland with a tough challenge. Former World No 3 Dominic Thiem is likely to be in their lineup, while other players expected to travel include Jurij Rodionov who is ranked 111 in the world, and Dennis Novak who is ranked 166.
“This take-up of tickets from tennis fans is fantastic news for the players.,” said Captain Conor Niland.
“They were already delighted at the prospect of competing in an arena like the one in UL. Now they know for sure they will be doing so in front of a full house. It will be huge for them and I can guarantee their total commitment to providing a stiff challenge to what will be world-class opposition.”
Ireland has successfully progressed from World Group III into World Group II and now to the World Group I playoffs through wins over Georgia, Barbados, and most recently El Salvador in September.
Limerick was the venue for previous Davis Cup success for Ireland. In 1989, the Irish team of Peter Wright, Sean Molloy and Robert Dolan beat Senegal 4-1 at Limerick Lawn Tennis Club.
Tennis is Ireland’s 4th most popular sport and has welcomed many new players to its growing all-island tennis community since COVID.
