Ruth ready to answer Ireland call

ASK most Irish sports fans to name our top female tennis players and they might struggle to think of one, but Dundalk’s Ruth Copas could be about to change all that.

Ireland’s number one is embarking on the biggest challenge of her life after being picked to play for her country in this week’s Fed Cup, the women’s equivalent of the Davis Cup - another stepping stone on the long road to becoming a professional.

The tournament for the 21 nations in the Europe/Africa Zone III begins today (Tuesday) in Moldova, with the team of Copas and Dublin quartet Sophia Derivan, Jane Fennelly, Jenny Timotin and non-playing captain Yvonne Doyle bidding to earn promotion and take Irish tennis to the next level.

Before travelling out to the east European country’s capital Chisinau, Ruth spoke to The Argus about what it means to be selected.

‘It’s massive,’ she began. ‘It’s been one of my dreams since I started and for the last three years I’ve been trying to get on to the team and have just missed out.

‘I got the news the day after I came home from America, so it was great to be able to celebrate that with my family.’

Ruth was selected after winning the last two National Championships, and she also beat a player ranked 600 in the world along the way.

Currently home from the University of New Mexico, where she is studying business on a full-time scholarship basis, the 20-year-old has been spending the past few weeks finalising preparations for her Fed Cup debut with the help of her coach, Dundalk’s former professional player John McGahon.

‘I’ve been travelling up and down to Fitzwilliam in Dublin because we only have one clay court in Ireland and that’s where it is. It would be great to have one in Dundalk!’ she said.

‘Personally, I want to win my matches and for us to get to Group II because we’re in Group III for this tournament. One of the teams Ireland played last year was Montenegro and they lost to them, but this year they’ve pulled out and that’s a massive advantage to us.’

Also on the agenda last week was watching the French Open on TV, and in particular her favourite player Rafa Nadal who is known as the ‘King of Clay’.

Looking beyond this week, Ruth has set herself one other major goal in the coming weeks as she moves towards a possible professional career in the sport.

‘I had a world ranking as a junior but don’t have one right now and my coach and I are looking to get one this summer,’ she explained. ‘I have to get through three rounds of three different tournaments to get a WTA ranking.

‘I will finish college with a degree in two years’ time and I’m hoping to get onto the professional circuit after that. It all depends on the next two years and how the college results go.

‘I would have to deal with living out of a suitcase for a while - the women’s tour is cruel [in terms of the amount of travel] - and you’d need a sponsor to keep you going because you can’t work another job when you are on tour. That’s just what you have to deal with [as a professional player].’

But for now it’s all about the Fed Cup and it’s an experience Ruth is looking forward to.

‘I don’t normally get nerves until the day, but I’m a little bit nervous,’ she confessed. ‘I’m used to playing for myself, but now it’s for my country!

‘I’ve been training hard, though, and I’m quite confident in how I will play, so it’s very exciting.’

After the Red Cup concludes on Sunday, Ruth expects to be spending a few weeks back home, interspersed with tournaments in Europe as she tries to gain sufficient points for a world ranking.

‘When I’m in New Mexico and it’s really hot out there, about 30 degrees. It’s big, but I’ve settled in great and met a lot of people and it’s not so hard being away from home now. It’s my life.

‘But I’m home now until mid August. When I’m away I miss going into Dundalk and the food especially, and I miss my family.

‘I’d like to thank my family and my parents. All through the years they didn’t push me, but they never said no, and they drove me to Dublin and all round the country.

‘And John has been there from day one. He keeps me motivated, he’s an inspiration and I really look up to him.’