The gallant run of Barbara Lambert in the 2001 Argus Open came to an end yesterday, eight days after walking under the World Trade Centers twin towers in New York City, when she was beaten by women's top seed Donna Bradshaw 6-2, 7-5 at the Tennis Stadium.

Though she had earlier won two matches defeating Tracy Berrell 6-0, 6-3 and Sarah Cook 6-0, 6-0, the thought was always how well was she able to stay focussed after having seen the devastation in New York.

"It was hard," admitted Lambert, "But there were two overriding factors that spurred me on. First of all I was home, and secondly the games were like a tonic.

"They allowed me, if only for a short period, to forget the tragedy that really befell the world last Tuesday."

Lambert added that her play "was secondary, but it helped me to lose sight of smoke, twisted steel, debris, apprehension, and a hurting people in New York, and for that I'm thankful for the Argus Open".

With her husband, David, the pair visited the World Trade Center the evening after the US Open finals.

In terms of her match against Bradshaw, the first set was over before Lambert realised she was in for a real battle, but she recovered, somewhat, in the second set even though it was a day when neither she, nor Bradshaw, were able to hold serve with consistency.

Trailing 2-3 in the second set, Lambert broke Bradshaw to level the match at 3-3, but was unable to hold her own serve as the pair proceeded to engage in service breaks until Bradshaw broke for a 6-5 lead and held, for the first time in five serves to take the game, and, set and match 7-5.

To Bradshaw the outing was something she needed as well, but for different reasons.

"I don't play that much competitive tennis and it is always good to have a brisk workout against quality players to get you in the right frame of mind," she said.