JOHN DORAN'S awareness of what was required to beat Pakistani Davis Cup player Omar Rashid proved a vital component in his success during the men's singles final of the Heineken-sponsored East of Ireland tennis championships at Lansdowne on Saturday.
Teenager Doran showed maturity by putting his natural serve-volley game on hold. He rarely went to the forecourt and invited a strategically cool and adroit opponent to pass him.
Yet, after this fine 6-4, 6-4 win over the top seed, Doran, seeded three, said his future lies in the serve-volley game. He says that when he returns from Harvard University, where he will be on a four-year scholarship, he hopes to be well honed in this department.
A fitful wind did not help and it was a big stumbling block for Rashid especially. He also got the worst of some unfair calls. But Doran was the more adaptable player all round on the day after taking a 4-0 lead.
Yvonne Doyle lifted the women's title, showing an edge in experience over Claire Curran who is set to benefit from a four-year scholarship at Berkeley University in California. It took Doyle a little over a hour to complete the job. Significantly, shed clinched both sets of a largely baseline shoot-out against serve for a 6-2, 6-3 triumph.
