A poor first serve and a host of unforced errors saw Ireland's Yvonne Doyle squander a match-winning position and slump to a 64, 5-7, 6-7 defeat against Britain's Hannah Collin in the second round Irish Women's Open Tennis Championship at Fitzwilliam yesterday.

When Doyle's bid for the quarter-finals had ended after almost three hours of baseline attrition, she had much to rue about an inability to rise above the vicissitudes of her own game. Having won the first set at a push, Doyle (25) was presented with a clear matchwinning opportunity, receiving at 5-5 and love-40, but she squandered all three match points, and Collin reeled off the next seven points on her way to taking the set.

Doyle's challenge had melted, the net began to appear higher and the court at Collin's end suddenly seemed to have shrunk.

Collin (18), raced to a 5-2 lead in the final set, and, at 5-3, had three match points on serve, but she failed to capitalise. "I felt I didn't do a lot wrong, she (Doyle) played three good winners," she said afterwards.

Doyle rediscovered her touch off the ground and forced the match to a tie break. At this crucial stage, Collin regained control, although she was assisted by a grotesque Doyle error for 7-3 and the match. There are no Irish survivors in singles as a result of Doyle's defeat.

The resilience of top seed and holder Lucie Ahl of Britain was put to the test after she had trailed 5-6 in both sets against Australian Catherine Barclay. Ahl, who remains the clear favourite for a third title, forced two tie breaks and won them both under pressure.

Karen Cross of Britain showed even greater determination when saving five match points before dismantling a brave bid by Italian Roberta Vinci 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.

Mara Santangelo, also of Italy, scored a significant 6-2, 6-2 win over Britain's Sam Smith.