IF the notion had been that Gina Niland, Ireland's top player, badly needed a sterner test to steel her challenge for the closing stages of, the Oil of Ulay Irish Open tennis championships, that particular, requirement was duly supplied, albeit a bit late, by the German Athina Briegel at Riverview yesterday.

Niland had not been asked the sort of questions she clearly thrives on in her earlier round, but against Briegel she eventually found a tough opponent to put away.

It was not as difficult for Niland in the first set, nor, as she found cruising speed, to reach 5-1 in the second. But when the German began to feel the chill of defeat the Irish woman suddenly had a fresh battle on her hands.

Encouraged by Niland's failure to convert a match point for 6-1 in the second set, Briegel dug deep, held serve and broke Niland.

Niland's resources were being stretched and she ominously lost the first point at the end of a long rally while serving for the match at 5-4.

Finally relief arrived with a wild return by Briegel into the tram lines. This gave Niland match point which she accepted gladly.

The one hour and 21 minute match should stand to Niland in her semi final meeting with top seed Evelyn Fauth of Austria today. Fauth is justifying her rating after a sluggish start and saw off the challenge of Australian Amy Jensen with composure.