Tennis: A GLORIOUS day of sunshine shone over the Framlingham College courts as the men's and women's closed championships hit the semi-final stage.The closest match came in the mens' singles where No.

A GLORIOUS day of sunshine shone over the Framlingham College courts as the men's and women's closed championships hit the semi-final stage.

The closest match came in the mens' singles where No. 2 seed Kevin Mee faced No. 7 seed Ian Moore.

Moore, who has previously won the tournament six times, hasn't played a competitive championship for five years, but has so far come through two tough matches against players much younger than himself.

In yesterday's match he controlled the early exchanges with his serve and volley game that gave him a crucial early break. This break later gave him the chance to serve out the first set which he did through a series of volleys and one very fortunate piece of luck. On set point Mee hit a soaring top-spin return that hit the wood of Moore's racket and ballooned into the air.

As Mee moved in for a routine smash, the amount of back-spin on the ball allowed it to cross the net and return to Moore's side before Mee could catch it.

This unlucky break didn't deter Mee and a fortunate net cord of his own put him back on track in the second. The fifth game, however, saw Mee serve a double fault and overhit a forehand which allowed Moore to break again.

Some great returns and passing shots helped the 18-year-old from Ipswich break back immediately, but Moore broke again to make it four games to three.

He then held serve, before setting up two match points on Mee's service game, which the left-hander did well to prevent with a delicate drop-shot and a cross-court pass that showed great composure. Back in with a fighting chance it looked as though a comeback could be on the cards, especially after he again saved two match points. But it wasn't to be as Moore finished the match off in style with a dipping lob that left Mee rooted to the spot.

The 41-year-old will face Simon Jordan in today's all-Lowestoft final. Jordan has already knocked out the No. 1 seed and will be confident after a comfortable straight-sets victory over Ashley Ford in yesterday's other semi-final.

In the ladies' closed semi-finals, top seeds Andrea Cooper and Louise Rogers won their

respective matches with ease and will contest today's final, where Cooper will be looking to retain her title.