Irvinestown Tennis Club’s John Maguire has been selected to represent Ireland at the ITF Seniors World Team and Individual Championships which will be held in Miami from October 29 until November 4.

Maguire’s performances throughout the season which included three Irish Doubles titles, a semi-final in the Singles and an Inter-Pros appearance for Ulster earned him his selection for the championships and as you would expect he is looking forward to it and is keen to make the most of the opportunity.

“I’m delighted to have been selected to play for Ireland at the World Championships. I’ve played in the Irish Four Nations team but this is the next level and it is a great opportunity. It may never happen again for me so I intend to give it my best shot,” he said.

John will be part of a four man team along with Tony Davison, Mark Milligan and Tom Barry and he knows that they face some stiff opposition when the action gets underway in Florida.

“We will get put into a group which will probably contain two of the top teams and then another team who will be around our own standard so it is going to be tough but we are looking forward to it,” he said.

And the Irvinestown man is eager to get plenty of work in between now and the championships.

“The championships will be played on a hard court and there is only one court like that which is in Belfast so I will have to try and get on it as often as I can. I will be playing the regular competitions that are coming up and I will be aiming to work hard on my fitness,” added Maguire.