Although it was not a competitive tour event, the exhibition label similarly didn't fit. A competitive exhibition: is there such a thing?

The players at least were singing from the same hymn sheet, and given the proximity of the first Grand Slam event of next year, the Australian Open, the feeling was that Dublin was an early start in what is normally a fallow period between the end of the 2002 season and the beginning of 2003.

But no one more than the world No.26-ranked Elena Bovina will look on Dublin as fertile ground.

Bovina arrived late to the event only because an ankle injury stopped Jelena Dokic. She then produced the match of the week against Venus Williams.

One of the few players on the circuit who would not be intimidated by Williams' physical presence, Bovina approached the match as if it were a Grand Slam event.

Pumping her fists and finally enervating the capacity crowd, the 189cm-tall Russian matched Williams for power and touch.

A 6-3 first set for Williams and a series of rash, snatching efforts from Bovina initially suggested that this would be the sixth US victory won within two sets, but the 19-year-old who made the quarter-finals of this year's US Open fought back against the gladiatorial world No.2.

Five breaks of serve in the second set fell in Bovina's favour as she fearlessly approached, forcing Williams to make her traditional passes, but the European's wing-span and decision-making unsettled Williams.

The third set was probably the best set of tennis played in Ireland by women in the modern era. The crowd knew it, stamping their feet in the bleachers when late in the contest they sensed the first European victory as Bovina served out the match at 6-5.

"It was definitely a good plan for her to come in (to the net)," Williams said. "I always think the best time to get a win is in an exhibition.

"I don't think I underestimated her. She attacked and if she can play like that every time she plays in a Grand Slam, then I think she will do well."