when number two seed Jensen Bascome defeated him in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 on Thursday night to earn a place in today's Colonial Open final.

In the other men's A semi-final, drama unfolded as top-seeded Ricky Mallory, approaching match point in a hard-fought battle against number three Greg Frigerio, had to be encouraged to finish the match by coach Steve Bean.

Mallory, experiencing `tennis burn-out', felt that the sportsmanlike thing to do was to retire and allow Frigerio to advance to the final. However, Bean, in true Davis Cup style, encouraged Mallory to "go one more round and rest when it's over''.

Mallory subsequently closed out the slugfest 6-4, 7-5 and will now face Bascome, his Davis Cup compatriot and doubles partner, in the final which is scheduled to start at 10.30 a.m.

Young Fed Cup player Zarah DeSilva lived up to her top seeding when she defeated LaVerne Stowe 6-2, 6-2 for a place in the final (9.00 a.m.).

However, second seed Kelly Holland was challenged by unseeded Tara Lambert and came out on the short end of a three-set thriller as the teenager won 2-6, 7-6 (11-9), 6-1.

Lambert fought off four match points in the second set before romping home with a decisive third set.

Holland then paired with Jill Finnegan to dispose of Mary Giordano and Ellen Brooke in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.

Mark Cordeiro and Jill Finnegan needed three sets to get by consistent Chris Harris and Wendy Gelhay 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 to set up a one-two seed final with Stuart Smith and LaVerne Stowe last night.

The latter were on the winning end of a straight sets (6-3, 6-3) victory over Bascome and Shonnette Wilson.