A nagging wrist injury has slowed James Collieson's ascent to the number one ranking in Island tennis.

The ailment flared up again during the men's singles final of the All Bermuda Tennis Club Open on Sunday and Collieson admits the time has probably come for him to see a sports injury specialist.

"It's been a problem the past four or five three-set matches I've had and I'm starting to get concerned about it,'' Collieson said after being forced to retire in the third set tiebreaker of his loss to Davis Cup team-mate Ricky Mallory.

The injury has been diagnosed as cramping in his right forearm but common treatment hasn't been able to prevent it. "No matter how much water or potassium or salt tablets I take, it doesn't seem to help,'' said Collieson.

The cramping mostly occurs in warm, humid conditions, he said, a fact made worse by his tendency to sweat profusely and hit balls as hard as he can during a match.

"It has nothing to do with conditioning,'' the 21-year-old fitness fiend says.

"It's definitely something I think can be treated.'' Still, it affected him in his loss to Michael Way during the XL Bermuda Open, it hit him hard during a four-hour marathon battle in the Davis Cup last month in Bolivia and left him without a strong forehand late in his loss to Mallory.

After being denied an injury time-out by the umpire when he was up 2-1 in tiebreak of his match against Mallory, Collieson attempted to play on by hitting two-hand backhands whenever possible. Finally, he said, the pain became too severe.

Collieson admits he probably could have received an injury time-out had he asked but was "too frustrated'' and walked off.

Frustrated is also the way he is over the state of his game.

A freshman at Division I Auburn University in Alabama, Collieson has not been able to break into the top six on the Tigers' varsity squad nor has he been able to overtake Way and Mallory -- both 11 years his senior -- in the Bermuda rankings.

"I felt like I really needed to win (against Mallory) just for my confidence,'' he said.

Collieson hinted he may transfer to a smaller university where he can receive more playing time. He will spend the summer playing in Bermuda but hopes to enter some US satellite pro tournaments.

He also feels pressure to improve because he has been designated for the past couple of years as the future of the game in Bermuda, and is expected to lead the Island into the next century.

Collieson acknowledged that it was "disappointing'' when Bermuda were relegated from Group III to Group IV in Davis Cup play but expects the team to bounce back up again next spring, especially if Way, Mallory and Donald Evans stick together.

Meanwhile, Mallory and Davis Cup captain Steve Bean teamed up in the rain-delayed men's doubles final of the ABTC Open on Monday -- but lost to the tandem of Mark Cordeiro and Dean Mello 6-3, 6-4.

Bermuda's Federation Cup players also had a rough outing in the ABTC. Liz Osborne lost to Heidi Boyle in singles while Allison Towlson and Kelly Holland were beaten by Wendy Gelhay and Anne Jones in the doubles final. Holland, Towlson and Osborne -- along with teenager Danielle Paynter -- represented the Island in the Fed Cup last month in Mexico.

Most of the top players will be in action beginning next Tuesday in the Heineken Open.

A PAIR OF ACES -- A few weeks after representing Bermuda in the Davis Cup, Ricky Mallory (serving) and coach Steve Bean were in the doubles final of the All Bermuda Tennis Club Open. They lost 6-3, 6-4 to Mark Cordeiro and Dean Mello.