TENNIS/Irish Women's Open Championships: The odds against an all-Dublin singles final in the Irish women's Open Championship tomorrow shortened dramatically at Castleknock LTC yesterday when Yvonne Doyle and Karen Nugent reached today's semi-finals at opposite ends of the draw.

Doyle, no longer playing full-time, had one of the best results of her career by dismantling the game of top seed and holder Eden Marama from New Zealand.

Nugent's power game became more forceful by the minute and proved too hot to handle for Britain's Rebecca Llewellyn.

The all-Dublin final is very close to reality on the evidence of play so far; Doyle, seeded five, has a higher WTA ranking than her Australian semi-final opponent Dubravka Cupac (seeded seven) while Nugent faces British qualifier Lucy Fletcher, who the in-form Dubliner beat recently.

Doyle's win was based on tactics and consistency off the ground. "I served well and this gave me confidence," she said.

The only time Doyle dropped serve was in the opening game of the second set. This was merely a slight hiccup even though it cost her the set but the final set was won quickly, 6-0. "By the time of the final set I felt I had read her game well," said a pleased Doyle who now spends her time coaching.

It was a bad day for the Marama sisters, with Paula, the number-three seed, also going out to Cupac, who was a 6-1 6-0 winner.

The two Irish women also reached today's doubles final with ease.