Queenstown's Louise Oxnevad yesterday beat Libby Scott (Dunedin) to claim a place in today's final of the national girls 18 and under championships in Albany.
In a pulsating match transferred indoors because of rain, the two southern rivals battled for more than 3hr 15min before Oxnevad prevailed 7-6, 2-6, 6-4.
Scott was not quite able to repeat last season's heroics when she belied her seeding to take the 16s title.
Oxnevad showed the benefit of greater overseas experience and more exposure to ITF world junior events in recent times.
The tall left-hander has undergone an extensive strengthening and conditioning programme to make her a better all-round athlete. She played No 2 to Scott last season when the Southern team won the national team event.
In the final today, she will meet former South African Mikaela Davies (North Harbour), who beat the national 16s No 1 Paige Hourigan (Wanganui) 6-4, 7-6. Scott plays Hourigan in a playoff for third and fourth.
After their solid morning work-out, the Southern pair, seeded second in the doubles, went out and won the final of that event 6-2, 7-6 against Erin Anderson-Scott and Dana Gray (Waikato-Bays) in the afternoon.
With Davies having an easier day yesterday, it remains to be seen whether Oxnevad can raise one more effort in the final.
The boys final will be between first seed Anton Bettink and second seed Chris Simich, both of Auckland.
