Danielle Brown seemed to use Saturday's women's singles final at the Yorkshire Championships to play herself into form.

After beating Sheffield's Carina Dalton 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in 1hr 59min indoors at Chapel Allerton, the 19-year-old from Huddersfield went back to her home-town to play three finals in the Sellers International Open.

The first was a re-match with Dalton in the women's singles, which Brown won 6-2, 6-4. She then beat Sarah March 6-1, 6-2 in the under-21 women's singles and paired up with March to defeat Dalton and Emma Tootell 6-2, 6-0 in the women's doubles.

Brown's dad Richard, who is also her coach, said: "The longer the day went on the more relaxed Danny became, the better she played and the better she served. Her serve was unplayable near the end."

But there have been many more frustrating times over the past 20 months than days like Saturday, where Brown pocketed a much-needed £395.

The teenager picked up glandular fever in November 2002 and it so disrupted her gap year, in which she wanted to play full-time tennis, that she has again delayed her start date at Loughborough University until the autumn of 2005 so she can give the women's circuit a crack.

Richard said: "Every time she tried to make a comeback she would have a relapse, and she got a lot of injuries as well - things like muscle pulls.

"It is only since last February that Danny has really become fit again after 15 months out, but her immune system is still susceptible, particularly in hot and humid climates.

"Justine Henin has also had glandular fever and Danny said there is no way that she could play in the French Open, and she was right. Justine hasn't been heard of since and could be out for a whole year.

"But we have been doing a lot of gym work with Danny to build up her fitness - not only on her main muscles but also on those connecting muscles which often cause the problems."

Oxford University student Dalton, also 19, certainly thrived on Brown's pace in the first set of the county final as the top seed also threw in a few costly double faults.

She served three in her opening service game, which she lost, and Dalton held on to that break to take the set in 51 minutes.

There was a break of serve each way in the first two games of the second set, and Dalton backhand errors gave Brown another break in the sixth game to lead

4-2. Brown, whose first serve is not far short of the Williams sisters in terms

of pace, took that set and crucially held her serve from 0-40 down at 4-4 in the third.

The final game particularly pleased her coach as Brown mixed up her game, throwing in a few slices and higher top-spun shots and letting Dalton force the pace and make the errors.

Guiseley's Caroline Mount showed her volleying skills in the women's doubles final, but, partnering Jade Mullarkey, they were beaten 6-3, 7-5 by Rebecca Sowden and Fiona Geldart.

Sadly they were the only entrants in the event, however, which must cause some soul-searching within the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Association.

The women's singles attracted eight players - better than some years but still low when you consider that it is the county championships.