Julie Pullin's hopes of landing a third national title ended when she lost to Hannah Collin in the semi finals at Bolton Arena.

Top seed Pullin, from Hove, lost 6-3 3-6 6-4 to Collin, who will attempt to uphold the pride of Britain's emerging young women players in today's final.

The 19-year-old from Surrey, winner of the title two years ago, faces veteran Victoria Davies, who followed up her quarter-final win over Elena Baltacha by beating Britain's other star prodigy, Anne Keothavong.

If Davies completes the hat-trick against the three teenagers carrying the weight of domestic expectation on their shoulders, it would be an amazing achievement for the 29-year-old ranked No. 19 in this country.

But it would say little for the prospects of an upturn in fortunes for British women's tennis if the crown goes to a player who admits doubles is her main focus and has never beaten an opponent in the world's top 150.

There is no disputing, however, that Davies deserves her place in the final on her performances this week, with the Welsh player showing the greater mental strength against sixth seed Keothavong.

Davies, from Bridgend, hit back from a break down in the first set to edge ahead, but Middlesex-based Keothavong raised her game and took the first five games of the second on her way to levelling the match.

The decider was much tighter and went with serve to 4-4, Keothavong always looking the more likely to gain a vital break.

But Davies earned her first break point of the set while Keothavong was serving to stay in the match at 4-5, and was handed a shock 6-3 1-6 6-4 triumph when her rival delivered a backhand into the net.

"I'm really excited to be in the final," said Davies. "It's been a great week for me and I'm having a lot of fun. I had been playing well in practice but came here with no expectations and it's nice to have strung some results together."

Keothavong admitted she had not performed to her best and claimed she had been put off by Davies' style, which relies more on precision than power.

"I don't think it was a great match," said Keothavong. "In the third set, Vicky was chipping to my backhand a lot and I got sucked into that.

"It was a bit like playing an old lady at a club who just slices everything. She can't have hit more than five winners all match. I created a lot of chances but just didn't take them."

Collin booked her meeting with Davies in similar fashion, winning the opening set against Pullin and then being pegged back.

The 1999 champion took an injury time-out due to a thigh muscle problem early in the decider but she was unaffected on court and gained the decisive break in the 10th game.

Another teenager, Lee Childs, kept alive his chances of retaining the men's title with a 6-4 6-3 win over third seed Barry Cowan, who had taken Pete Sampras to a deciding set at Wimbledon this year.

"I feel as though I'm a better player than 12 months ago," said 19-year-old Childs, from Somerset.

Tim Henman took just 45 minuted to overpower Michel Kratochvil and reach the semi-finals of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors event in Basel.

Second-seed Henman, the highest seed left in the tournament, never looked in danger of losing even a set as he strolled to an easy 6-0 6-1 victory. He now plays Russia's Nikolai Davidenko.

THERE were second round wins for two Sussex players in the Tate and Lyle Ladies Championships at Wimbledon.

Julie Dawson beat M. Emmett (Bedfordshire) 6-2 6-3 while Jheni Osman overcame R. Llewellyn (Wales) 6-1 6-2.