the mixed doubles semi-final of the Coral Beach Club Invitational Tournament yesterday, fighting from behind to clinch an impressive win over the favoured pair of Mary Lenore Blair and John Moore.

Butterfield and Curry were 1-5 down in the first set but came back to win 7-5 and then took the second set 6-4 to clinch the victory.

"She just played her usual steady game, and when she got a few lucky bounces, there was just nothing we could do,'' said Blair.

Butterfield was more surprised: "It was a great comeback wasn't it?'' she asked herself. "It was thoroughly enjoyable.'' But all was not lost for Blair as she had earlier taken the ladies 40 singles title with a straight sets 6-2, 6-4, victory over Alice Duff, while her century mixed doubles partner, Ralph Howe, captured the men's 45 singles title when he defeated Bermudian Earl Leader 6-2, 6-0.

Butterfield and Curry will now face Kathy Stuhler and Jim Baumer in today's final after the latter came from a set down to defeat Duff and Nick Frost 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5). Duff and Frost, themselves, fought from 2-5 down in the deciding set to take a 6-5 lead before losing.

Leader, who pulled off a major upset in his semi-final, defeating former two-time champion Carl Forsythe, said he had never "been so frustrated by an opponent as I was out there today.

"The man (Howe) never hit the same shot twice, he always just padded the ball, hit short, lobbed or whatever ... he literally kept me off balance throughout.'' Howe explained: "That was my game plan. He (Leader) is too good to allow him to get into the match, and I knew if I kept him off balance it would be to my advantage.'' Though there was excitement yesterday, not in recent years has there been the anticipation that is awaiting today's finals.

Bermuda's top female player Kim Simmons takes on Jans Rolls of England, a former Queen's Club singles champion in the opening final, followed by the battle of local giants, top seed Donald Evans and second seed Michael Way.