British players-henman,murray,rusedski etc

[SAFINNO1]

British pair crash out in Monaco

British duo Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski lost their first clay-court matches of 2006, crashing out of the Monte Carlo Masters in the first round.
Henman looked uninspired and only managed to hold serve twice as he was defeated by world number eight Argentine Gaston Gaudio 6-1 6-3.

Rusedski fought back to level his match with Juan Ignacio Chela before crumbling to a 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 loss.

British number one Andy Murray plays France's Jean-Rene Lisnard on Tuesday.

Henman had meekly surrendered the opener as he struggled to land any first serves, getting just 47% in during the match as a whole.

The 31-year-old broke the world number eight twice in the second and even saved three match-points at 5-3.

But clay-court specialist Gaudio was too strong and broke Henman again to seal the victory. It was the first time Gaudio had beaten Henman in four meetings.

Rusedski put on a spirited display against Chela, another favourite on the clay, after losing a tight first set.

The 32-year-old British number two squandered a break in the second and missed a series of other break points as the set went to a tie-break.

A determined Rusedski clinched the breaker before losing his momentum and focus in the decider to lose to Chela for the second time this season.

[Annie]

Join Mitya in waiting for grass season Tim....this is just not your cup of tea boys LOL

[iman]

hey where are all the british fans??
iman
xx

[SAFINNO1]

WOW this is an amazing victory for a person who cannot play on clay, considering Tommy was pushing Rafa in 2 sets at Barca

Rusedski survives in Robredo test

Greg Rusedski survived a tough test in the first round of the Rome Masters by beating Spanish clay-court specialist Tommy Robredo 5-7 6-3 6-4.
The Briton saved set point at 5-3 down in first set and then broke back to level match at 5-5, but he immediately lost his serve and then the first set.

Rusedski raced through second set to level the match and broke Robredo twice to take a 4-1 lead in the deciding set.

Robredo got one break back but Rusedski held his nerve to seal the win.

Andy Murray and Tim Henman play their opening matches on Tuesday.

Rusedski will replace Murray as British number one if he out-performs the Scot in Rome this week.

[SAFINNO1]

Just Q & A Greg done recently

Greg Rusedski Q&A

You've just won your semi-final at Wimbledon. Tim Henman is playing Andy Murray in the other semi. Who do you want to win?
Rich, England

I wouldn't really care who won to be honest but I think the public would like to see me play Henman. We've been talking about it for about 10 years now, us playing each other at Wimbledon. So that's what the public probably wants to see - the two old boys going at it.

I wouldn't want it to go deep into the fifth against Tim, I'd rather do what McEnroe did to Connors in 1984 - one, one and two in an hour and 20 minutes. But I think it's all highly unrealistic at the moment considering both our ages but you never know, magic can happen once in a while.



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Do you still think you can win Wimbledon?

I don't know. You always imagine in your mind you can do it and you always dream about it - but you have to be realistic. I'm 33 this year, I've had a great career and I've achieved a lot of things I never thought I would but there's a gentleman called Roger Federer, who is just magical on the grass. Before that it was Pete Sampras who was the man and only one or two people have snuck in during that period.

I think for me anything would be a bonus. If I could find a way to get into the second week, it would be fabulous or even just to win a few matches. It's a lot harder these days: the courts are a lot slower, the balls are slower. It's a different sort of game these days.



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What are the chances that this Wimbledon will be the last for you and Tim?
Anna, Blackpool

Obviously I can't speak for Tim but I'm just taking it a day at a time. I haven't done too much this year, although I've enjoyed a few of my matches. I enjoyed the Davis Cup tie, even though we lost. I feel like I'm playing good tennis but I don't feel I've hit my stride yet. I'm hoping this grass court season I'll play some good tennis and then after I'll be able to assess what I'm going to do.

Plus, on a personal level, I've just had a baby girl and priorities change. Retirement is getting closer but there's no announcement on it yet!



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Has having a child affected your commitment to the game? And how does it feel now you are a father?
Jack Darvell, England

It's one of the most magical moments in anyone's life seeing the birth of your child. Thankfully, Lucy is taking a lot of the sleepless nights so I can get my training in but your perspective changes. After you've been out there on the tour for 15 years, you want to be at home a lot more and it's harder to do the daily practice because you want to spend that time at home. That's the hardest part - trying to find the balance.



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How much longer do you think you will take part in Davis Cup tennis? Will you consider doing what Henman did and retiring from Davis Cup before you stop playing altogether?
Usmaan Amin, UK

I haven't really thought about that yet. I'd like to see the younger players coming in and doing things in Davis Cup. It's great to see Andy Murray going out there and performing but I'd like to see Alex Bogdanovic come out and say he's ready to play finally because he's had some great results this year and Jamie Baker and some of the younger guys. We've got to think of the generation coming up - they're going to have to be the backbone of the team.



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The next tie against Israel clashes with the RCA Championships. Will you consider not playing Davis Cup in order to defend the points you won by reaching the semis in in Indianapolis last year?

It's a big decision and I'll have to sit down and think about it. That's another reason I want to do well at Queen's and Wimbledon so it takes the pressure off and makes the decision easier. But I'd like to be there but I have to factor in all those things we just mentioned.



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Have you tried to persuade Tim to play Davis Cup again?
Dan, Bristol

I've asked him about six times and I'm 0 for six so far so I don't think I'm going to win that battle! I've kind of given up on that one. Tim is slowing down in his career. He's got a family and two young children and he's just happy where he is at the moment. You have to respect that.



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Do you think the format of the Davis Cup should be altered to a format similar to that of football's World Cup to help raise its profile? A tournament of three to four weeks duration that is held every two or four years and all countries compete.
Paul Johnson, UK

I think what we have to do it get everyone together in the same room from the ITF and the ATP and really plan a good schedule. I think the Davis Cup is a great event because it gets people to watch tennis who wouldn't normally. The format is good and I'd like to see it throughout the calendar year but I think it needs to be scheduled a bit better.



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Rafael Nadal is making huge waves in tennis and he'll make his debut at Queen's this year. Can you see him making an impact on grass in the future?

I think it will be the hardest surface for him to win on, but, for example, he could get into the second week at Wimbledon because the courts are obviously a lot slower. Look at Jim Courier in 1993 - he got to the final against Pete Sampras playing a baseline game. Rafael's one of these guys who has such a competitiveness in him that he just wants to win all the time and that accounts for a lot. He can certainly do well at Wimbledon, but I don't see him winning the title.



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Are there any good young British prospects coming through?
Robert Rath, England

It's the same people we've been talking about for a while - Alex Bogdanovic, Jamie Baker, Alan Mackin. They have to step up and find a way. But let's look at Tim. He didn't really break through until he was 21. When he was 19, people weren't expecting him to hit the heights so I'm hoping one of those players I just mentioned or someone we're not even talking about is going to excite us somehow, inspire us and make us want to watch tennis - like Andy Murray is now.



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You spoke a couple of years ago about your hopes for Andrew Banks, but he has now retired at the age of 21. How do you see that? Is there not enough incentive in the game for people with that talent?

I have to respect him a little bit. He got to 21 and decided he wasn't up for it and wasn't going to make it. A lot of our players continue on a spiral where they're not really getting anywhere. They stay ranked between about 200 and 300 for about 10 or 15 years which doesn't accomplish much. They're not earning a decent living or being a top professional. Andrew had the talent and the weapons but there's another part of the game - the mental aspect. He realised he didn't have the mental commitment he needed and I respect him for that.



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Why is it that the LTA is so bad at producing top tennis players?
Neil Woolley, England

Every country has a problem producing players. In America, you have a country of 300 million people and not all their players come through the United States Tennis Association. The LTA can help by financing the younger players and helping them out with coaches - but it's about finding the right players to start with. It doesn't matter if they come from a council estate or a well-to-do background, they have to have the hunger. We have great athletes in Britain but we have to spot them and maybe get them out of football, cricket or rugby and get them into tennis.

If we can find five or 10 of those kids, then we should start producing players. Look at Spain, they have so many young players who are always practising together. Even their players around 150 are absolute fighters who just want to be there and that's what we have to get. I'm already supposed to be meeting up with new LTA chief executive Roger Draper and when I've finished my career I want to sit down with the people in charge and see what the thought processes are. It's getting to a stage where we have to find a solution and we need to get the best minds around it.



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Where does the new National Tennis Centre fit into all that?

It's a good idea but you have to have the right people working there and the right kids. That's the key. I've met a lot of the coaches and they're are very good but they need someone to guide them when they have problems. For example, when I finish playing I might be a very good player but does that make me a good coach? I need to learn my trade. You're putting yourself in a different situation where you have to find a solution. Do we need to spend £35m on the new centre? That's another question.



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You were once in the US Open final. What is it like to set foot in a Grand Slam final, knowing that you're three sets away from a place in history?
Jamie Millington, England

I was only two sets away actually - I managed to win one set! It was great to get to the final, but at the time I expected there to be many more after that but it wasn't to be. It was such a thrill to be one of the last two players going for the title. The US Open is a great event and it was just a magical moment. That's what you play for - to try to win a Grand Slam.



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How much harm do you think the nandrolone 'issue' did to your career, and how much more do you think you could have achieved without it?
David Sheppard, England

I thought I came back admirably considering the situation. I felt there was a real injustice and it inspired me to keep going. I've always had controversy in my career. It's never been smooth sailing which is unfortunate, whether it be injuries, having to deal with the coaching situation or fighting to clear my name on a situation which was completely unjust. It's always been one thing after another but I guess that's what makes life interesting. If I'd had a more relaxed, boring career, people wouldn't know me so much! But I think I've done pretty well considering. But I will never know what my career would have been like if I hadn't missed those six months.

[sabz]

Thank you sooo much for the info Ily!! ;D
To be perfectly honest, as soon as i saw Greg was up against Robredo, i wrote him off Now i feel REALLY guilty!! AWESOME VICTORY GREG!!! especially against a clay court specialist! ;D
Good Luck for the Next Round!
(hopefully Tim and Andy will follow! )

[iman]

thanks for all that safino...i wrote greg off too.....guilty as charged....but that is great he won....

do u know about any of the italien guys henners and andy are playing???
ive not heard of them so i hope time and andy kick some ass!!!

thanks safino

iman
xx

[sabz]

TIM WON!!!!!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAY!!!

Henman overcomes Di Mauro test

Tim Henman reached the second round of the Rome Masters after beating Italy's Alessio Di Mauro in straight sets.
The British number three was pushed all the way but saved his best for the big points in his 7-5 7-6 (7-2) victory.

Wild card Di Mauro played his part in an entertaining contest which lacked a decent crowd for much of the match.

By the end, the stadium had filled up considerably to urge the home hopeful on, but Henman, 31, stepped up a gear in the second set tiebreak to win.

He made a good start to the match, breaking his opponent in the opening game.

But Di Mauro broke back and had a break point at 3-2 which Henman did well to save.

Henman then had to save three set points when Di Mauro was 5-4 up in the opener, putting in a strong serve and producing a forehand winner to force deuce.

After snatching the opening set, Henman found the going tough again in the second.

Di Mauro was within two points of levelling the match at one set apiece, only for Henman to use his wealth of experience again to force a tie-break.

This time Henman managed a deft drop shot and a cross-court winner to make it 6-6 and he closed out the tie-break comfortably.

[sabz]

After Marat's loss i need something to cheer me up!!

Rusedski sees off Galvani in Rome

Greg Rusedski continued his surprise run on clay with victory over Italy's Stefano Galvani at the Rome Masters.
The 32-year-old, who will replace Andy Murray as British number one next week, beat Galvani 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 and meets Andy Roddick in the third round.

Galvani started in impressive fashion but twice let leads slip before losing the opening tie-break, and two breaks were enough for Rusedski in set two.

Rusedski was happy with his form after his straight-sets victory.

"I feel I'm hitting my ground strokes pretty well and I'm not so concerned about losing serve," he said.

Rusedski took a fortnight off after the recent Monte Carlo Masters and believes he is performing better as a result.

"I've been playing for 15 years and needed to get fresh again," added the 32 year-old.


He next plays Roddick - GOOD LUCK!!
ps. tim has just started playing against thomas johansson 3-3

[SAFINNO1]

YAY 2 BRITS IN 3RDROUND

T Henman GB v T Johannson Swe (15)

7-6 (10-8) 6-1

[Annie]

Glad your boys are doing well Ily ;D ;D ;D

Kolya is my only hope in Rome now

[SAFINNO1]

admin said:

Glad your boys are doing well Ily ;D ;D ;D

Kolya is my only hope in Rome now

Well i think our luck is running our know

Roddick v Rusedski
Nadal v Henman (sorry tim but

[sabz]

Roddick power sees off Rusedski

Andy Roddick won the battle of the big servers as he saw off Britain's Greg Rusedski to reach the Rome Masters last eight on Thursday.
In a tight first set, the American had the edge throughout on serve and held off a gritty Rusedski in the tie-break.

And two breaks in the second saw fifth seed Roddick complete a 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 victory, setting up a clash with Gael Monfils or Fabrice Santoro.

British hopes now lie with Tim Henman, who faces Rafael Nadal at 2000 BST.

Defending champion Nadal's current run on clay courts now stretches to 49 straight wins.

If he retains his Rome crown, Nadal will equal the record of 53 straight wins on clay of Argentine Guillermo Vilas in 1977.

The Spaniard, 19, has played Henman just once before, beating him in the hardcourt Dubai Open earlier this year.


GOOD LUCK TO TIM!!! but it is Nadal All i have to say is, it cant do any harm playing against Rafa, he has nothing to lose and he might learn some tricks from the King of Clay hehe - anyway GOOD LUCK!! ;D

[iman]

hey safino and sabz

rafa is just playing tim....ur right he has nothing to loose but hope he does well

iman
xx

[Annie]

Tim is fighting...I am watching now.... 2:5 Tim serving...deuce

Andy Murray is at the match ;D ;D ;D