GINA NILAND, the number four seed, did not exactly hobble out of the semi finals of the Oil of Ulay Irish Open tennis championships at Riverview yesterday but tendonitis in her left foot threatens to disrupt her career, yet again.

Another long lay off was the prospect facing the top ranked Irish player after losing, with a restricted game, to top seed Evelyn Fauth of Austria 6-2 6-2 in just over an hour.

"She hit the ball very hard and I had to hold back. I tried to concentrate on her back hand but she was able to run around it", said Niland.

Niland's ability to dismantle a hard hitters game, despite debilitation, surfaced in the third game of the match that went to a 20th point which the Limerick woman won with relentless persistence and shots of variation and depth.

Fauth took the set after 37 minutes and the match 30 minutes later.

Niland was unable to take advantage of her best chance to get back into the match in the sixth game of the second set when, untypically, losing out on four break points.

The Irish coach Peter Wright, currently in Atlanta, missed seeing one of his proteges from Berkely California advance to meet Fauth in today's final.

Pam Nelson who has graduated from the US national youths squad, was happy to say that Wright coached her at university. Nelson is a difficult player to beat as South Africa's Surina de Beer has discovered in three satellite meetings.

"My best shots kept coming back," she said. To which Nelson replied: "Yes, I agree, her forehands are big shots but my game is to keep the ball in court and thankfully I managed that well today."

Nelson may have to be a little quicker off the mark to get a racket on Fauth's best deliveries in what promises to be a interesting match.

Irish interest vanished altogether when Harvard bound Joe Green sank to the artistry of Omah Rashid in the men's semi final. From the moment Green lost his touch on back hand and also the first set tie break decisively, his game slid at an alarming rate.