IF what we saw at the Irish Open tennis championships at Riverview yesterday is any indication, seeded players are in for a rough time.

Expectations in this regard were emphasised as top seed Evelyn Fauth of Austria was among a number of fancied players to feel the chill of impending defeat.

Linda Jansson of Finland, the number two seed looked particularly vulnerable as did the South African Surina de Beer but Fauth was fairly stripped of composure by qualifier Caroline Leens of Belgium who only qualified for the main draw because of a withdrawal.

These 10,000 satellite events can be a minefield for the young and ambitious who are prepared to travel half way round the world. There are no easy pickings, which most players will readily testify.

Leens had played her part in proving the point by the time she had forced top seed Fauth to serve to stay in the match at 4-5 in a final set.

Jansson dropped a middle set to Louise Latimer of Britain at a time when she was feeling the pinch from having been forced into a 12th game of a long rallying first set.

And Ireland's Yvonne Doyle, a qualifier, put de Beer on the rack by leading 6-5 in the final set. The South African, confident after arriving as a beaten finalist in the British circuit was rudely awakened by an unlucky Doyle.

It all pointed to an interesting week ahead and the signs are that the Swede Maria Persson, the number three seed, is as likely as any to walk off with the top prize.

She displayed form that is so typically Swedish when dealing with the challenge of Claire Curran. Always maintaining a superb length and injecting smart variation when needed she kept the Irish girl pinned back. She was particularly streamlined out of the back hand court.

Curran, a Wimbledon junior entry this year, may well have thrown in the towel such was Persson control of the points in the second set which she won to love.

Gina Niland was a comfortable winner over the German Nina Wenger 6-1 6-4.