Dubliner Yvonne Doyle joined the illustrious company of Billie Jean King, Evonne Goolagong Margaret Court and Virgina Wade by winning the Irish Women's Open championship in a rain-interrupted final at Glasnevin on Saturday.
Her task against a gifted Munich schoolgirl, Claudia Kuleszka, the surprise packet of the tournament, was always going to be formidable even though the shine on the unranked German's game faded after a 48-minute rain break in the first set.
Up to that point, Kuleszka looked as though her uninhibited style of power-hitting and angle finding would unhinge Doyle's ambition. But as the rain bucketed down outside, no time was wasted by Doyle and coach Owen Casey to reassemble her game.
"Owen advised me on a number of points; to keep the ball away from her backhand, get into the rallies and concentrate on getting more first serves in," said Doyle.
When they resumed at 4-2 for Kuleszka, Doyle's game went from base to apex and she took the set 6-4.
After taking the set on a fourth set point, Doyle broke immediately at the start of the second set, won her first three service games to love, and held to take the match in an hour and 23 minutes.
Later, the doubles had to be switched to indoors at Riverview.
Singles: Y Doyle bt C Kuleszka (Ger) 6-4 6-4.
Doubles: Doyle and K Nugent bt B Calderwood and E Hewson (Aus) 6-0 6-1.
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