Karen Nugent realised an ambition since returning to tennis after a long lay-off, when qualifying for a showdown with her Fed Cup team-mate Gina Niland in today's final of the East of Ireland senior open championships at Londonbridge Road last evening.
Nugent, who once shared a court with Martina Navratilova as a 17-year-old, has made a promising comeback and her win over Lisa O'Shea affords her the opportunity to continue her recovery bid.
The Ballyboughal girl has certainly rediscovered the form that established her as Ireland's best prospect four years ago. She reeled off the first six games to set the pattern against O'Shea, who made a brief rally in the second set to pick up three games.
Niland was suitably impressive when dismissing Yvonne Flynn of Cork in the other semi-final.
Owen Casey was in frugal mood in his semi-final against England's Sean Harrop, winning 6-0 6-0 in less than three quarters of an hour.
Tim Henman saved two match points before losing 7-5, 7-5 to Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the quarterfinals of the $2.45 million ATP Championships in Cincannatti yesterday.
