Ireland will begin their 2009 Davis Cup campaign with an away tie against Algeria in the Euro/Africa zone of the tournament.

While neither team features any big-name players, the Irish will field  the stronger team, with all four players ranked in the ATP singles tables. Conor Niland and Louk Sorensen are the highest ranked Irish players at 254 and 295 respectively.

The Algerian side, meanwhile, looks a bit thin, with Lamine Ouahab their highest ranked player at 246. Algeria’s second ranked player, Eddy Chala, is ranked outside the ATP top 1000 singles players.

One of the factors counting in the Algerian’s favour will be home advantage, with 2,000 Algerian tennis fans expected to turn out for their team’s opening Davis Cup tie.

Two years ago the Algerians would have been clear favourites to beat the Irish Davis Cup team, with Ouahab ranked just outside the ATP top 100.

Despite the fact that Ouahab’s career has nosedived, he remains a potent threat in the singles rubbers, and has the potential to sink Irish dreams of World Group qualification.