UNSEEDED Cormac Jennings of Kilkenny beat Gareth Kilduff, the number four seed, 6-4 4-6 7-5, in a tense battle that produced the biggest shock so far in the Dunlop Irish Open Junior tennis championships at Fitzwilliam yesterday.
Conditions were dank and windy for this under 18 quarter final and while both players shared these discomforts, Jennings, whose career was put on hold following a car accident earlier this year, had a huge psychological barrier to break down against a player who has always beaten him.
Jennings was positive in most things he did to take the first set 6-4. Kilduff's confidence did not wane, however, and he forced the match into a final set. However, an unruffled Jennings clinched the match in the 12th game.
Jennings now faces top seed David Mullins in today's semifinals. Nick Malone and Sean Copper claimed their places in the semi final at the expense of Robert Cherry and Barry Leonard, both of whom showed ability to surprise.
Claire Curran goes into the girls senior final after only one match in which she reeled off 12 games against Ruth Kennedy. Limerick's Aoife O'Neill challenges the top seed today.
There was an upset in the intermediate girls singles when unseeded Elaine Fagan ousted the number two seed Dearbhla Kelly 6-4 6-3.
. Tennis Ireland have been given full recognition by the International Tennis Federation in a renewed worldwide drive to boost the sport at schools level.
Tennis Ireland will officially announce it's involvement today.
