Any anxious moments encountered by top seed Owen Casey up to the semi-final stages of the Irish Open indoor tennis championships at Riverview this week have been off rather than on court.

The routine for the holder was repeated during yesterdays quarter-finals. Again, he was first off court, this time having dismissed Donal Glennon 6-2 6-2 and, again he had plenty of time to size up the form of remaining opponents.

Casey could only have felt intimidated as a spectator observing George McGill, his semi-final opponent today, John Doran, the number two seed and Robert Collins having to crank into top gear against ambitious aspirants.

Both Doran and Collins dropped a set to David Mullins and Sean Cooper respectively. Both Mullins and Cooper were impressive if not proficient throughout their matches. Mullins did not quite sustain the high percentage of first serves that marked his first set success and Doran was relieved to get through 4-6 6-2 6-3 in a tense match of well plotted points.

Collins struggled in the first set, lost the second to a very promising Cooper whose challenge petered out in the final set.

Top women's seed Gina Niland also got it tough before claiming her final place with a 7-6 6-4 win over Yvonne Flynn.

Men's singles: (quarter finals) O Casey bt D Glennonx 6-2 6-2. G McGill bt N Malone 7-5 6-1. R Collins bt S Cooper 7-5 3-6 6-2. J Doran bt D Mullins 4-6 6-2 6-3. Women's singles: (semi-finals) - G Niland bt Y Flynn 7-6 (7-5) 6-4. L McCracken bt D Kelly 6-1 6-2.

Spain are favourites to win the Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis tournament starting in Perth, Australia, today. Carlos Moya, ranked seventh in the world, and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ranked ninth, are top seeds in the eight-day, nine-nation contest at the Burswood Dome.

Second seeds in this year's tournament, the 10th since the mixed teams concept was introduced, are France, represented by Mary Pierce (seventh in the world) and Cedric Pioline (20th).

France have taken part in the Hopman Cup every year, but have never won, despite advancing to the semi-finals three times.