TENNIS/Masters' Series: In much better conditions than Thursday, the Danone Masters Series progressed to the final stages last night at Castleknock Tennis Club in Dublin. The event that was run through the summer with weekly qualifying stages to select the top eight players in the men's and women's events produced the four finalists last night.
Teenager Mariyana Levova beat 41-year-old Leslie O'Halloran 6-2, 6-3, to make her way into today's finals. No surprise there for the best player of her age in Ireland, the Bulgarian conceded just five games against the venerable former Irish Federation Cup player, to earn a meeting with the most successful domestic player of the season, Yvonne Doyle. Doyle defeated Ann Marie Hogan 6-1, 6-3.
In the men's event, the tight contest and probably match of the night, between Davis Cup players Stephen Nugent and Peter Clarke, ended with Clarke edging matters. But he had to save three set points in the second set for the victory using his hard delivery to good effect. Conor Taylor, meanwhile, defeated Gareth Doran 6-1, 6-2, to meet favourite Clarke.
In the play-backs 16-year-old Jenny Claffey, just home from a year playing in Spain, not surprisingly improved her chances of bigger prize money when 18-year-old opponent Rachael Dillon withdrew following advice she should not risk further injuring the ankle that has hindered her for the last two months.
Other winners for the placement positions were Vanessa Newman, who defeated Lisa Lawlor 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, and in the men's event Larne's Nelson Boyle defeated Simon Wrafter 7-5, 6-2, while Daniel Glancy came through 6-3, 6-4, against Michael Hayes.
PLAY BACKS - Men: N Boyle bt S Wrafter 7-5, 6-2; D Glancy bt M Hayes 6-3, 6-4. Women: V Newman bt L Lawlor 0-6, 6-4, 6-4; J Claffey bt R Dillon (walk over). Semi-finals - Men: M Taylor bt G Doran 6-1, 6-1; P Clarke bt S Nugent 7-6 (7), 7-6 (1). Women - Y Doyle bt A M Hogan 6-1, 6-2; M Levova bt L O'Halloran 6-2, 6-3.
