British players-henman,murray,rusedski etc

[sabz]

Me again Good new for andy, he is into the semis at newport. but bogo's run of form ended!

Murray storms into Newport semis

Andy Murray blasted his way into the semi-finals of Newport's Hall of Fame Championship with a 6-0 6-0 victory over American Robert Kendrick.
The win for the Scot, who had earlier won his delayed second-round match with Sam Querrey, took only 59 minutes.

But the impressive run of fellow Briton Alex Bogdanovic came to a halt as he lost his quarter-final against Austrian Jurgen Melzer 3-6 6-2 6-1.

Murray next faces Justin Gimelstob, who beat Kristian Pless 6-3 6-1.

Melzer's semi-final will be against Mark Philippoussis after the Australian overcame American Mardy Fish 7-6 (9-7) 6-3.

[iman]

well done andy.....i hope he kicks that smug gimelstobs ass!!!

[SAFINNO1]

u've cursed him Iman lol

Murray's run halted by Gimelstob

Murray slipped and hurt his knee in his match against Gimelstob
Andy Murray failed to become the first top seed to the win the Hall of Fame Championship by losing 6-1 7-6 in the semi-finals to Justin Gimelstob.
The 19-year-old Briton, who played two matches on Friday because of rain delays, was broken three times in the first set before attempting a comeback.

Gimelstob, 29, is chasing the first tournament win of his 10-year career.

The eighth seed faces Australian Mark Philippoussis, who beat Austrian sixth seed Jurgen Melzer 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 6-0.

Murray had seemed to hit form in Newport after strolling into the last four with an emphatic 6-0 6-0 victory over American Robert Kendrick.

But the Scot was let down by his serve against Gimelstob, who broke him in the third game of the first set.

Murray then lost his next two service games as his opponent took command.

Murray showed more steel in the second but Gimelstob completed the job in just over an hour-and-a-half.

No top seed has ever won the event since it began 30 years ago.

[iman]

im so sorry, i cant belive this!!!

i wish i never opened my mouth!!!!

bloody rain u would have though murray was used to rain coming from the UK!!!!!!!!!!!

and what about mark phil'sus......how could a run has he had in this tournament!!!

now im not going to saying anything about gimblestob and phil'sus in case i jinx this match too!!!! but i think u know what i am thinking!!!!!

[sabz]

Grinning Greg ready to fight on

Greg Rusedski has admitted his career would be in jeopardy if he chose to undergo the operation he needs to repair his injured hip. Rusedski is awaiting news to see whether he requires surgery on a cartilage tear at Queen's Club in June, but has insisted he is not ready to retire yet.

The world number 72 will drop out of the top 100 when the rankings are announced next week after being knocked out of the Canada Masters in the first round stage.

"If I have to have surgery on it, I would probably assume that would be it," Rusedski said on Wednesday.

"Magnus Norman had surgery and never came back. Gustavo Kuerten has had two surgeries and never came back yet. There's a chance the operation can make it worse, actually.

"There are no specific, one hundred per cent guarantees it's going to be better by having surgery. The best thing is to try to manage it right now.

"You've just got to try it out and see how it goes. It's not going to get better if I just sit and do nothing. I have to go out there and try to do something with it."

[sabz]

SOOO there is yet ANOTHER british clash in the first round and then federer?!! any one else annoyed?

Henman v Rusedski


The latest and possibly final instalment of a great British rivalry will take place in New York next week.

The draw for the first round of the US Open has thrown together Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski for the 12th meeting of their careers.

Their paths have been inextricably linked since they both came onto the professional tennis scene in the mid-1990s - Henman from leafy Oxfordshire and Rusedski via Canada.

Henman has always been the higher-profile player, having reached six Grand Slam semi-finals and spent most of his career ranked above Rusedski.

The fact that Henman regularly made the latter stages at Wimbledon, causing an annual outbreak of Henmania, cemented his place in the nation's sporting landscape.

That he was born and brought up in the UK might also have helped.

Rusedski, on the other hand, has never been at his best on Wimbledon's grass, making just one quarter-final and showing his irritable side as often as his winning tennis in SW19.

His best moments have come away from these shores, most notably at the US Open itself where he reached the final in 1997 before losing to Pat Rafter.

And it is often forgotten that Rusedski has won four more titles in his career than Henman.

Neither player has been in exactly scintillating form of late, with Rusedski in particular struggling in a run of eight defeats in nine matches.

An overwhelming lead in their head-to-head record and Rusedski's on-going battle with a hip injury mean the odds are heavily stacked in Henman's favour.

Roger Federer is scheduled to be waiting in round two, so whichever Briton comes through the first round is unlikely to progress any further at Flushing Meadows.

That means victory in the opening encounter is likely to be their only chance to grab the headlines at this year's event.

Rusedski has plummeted out of the world's top 100 and if his poor run of form continues, he will have to play qualifying for future Grand Slams, a state of affairs that will surely hasten the retirement of the former world number four.

Henman, who has also been as high as four in the world, has slipped down the rankings too and recurrent back problems suggest the end of his career will also come sooner not later.

So the New York date will almost certainly be their last Grand Slam clash and could also be the last meeting of their professional careers.

The inexorable rise of Andy Murray means that neither Henman nor Rusedski can claim victory gives him bragging rights as Britain's best player.

But for two proud men, who share a birthday but whose opposing personalities have made for a sometimes strained relationship, it could mark a final chance to claim the upper hand after more than a decade of rivalry.

[SAFINNO1]

I am soo gutted about this match - they have both had rough times recently and i still believe there is 1 last hurrah for these Brits unfortunately it won be this US Open.

Should be an interesting match though - pick of the 1st round!

Good luck boys!!!!!!!!

[Annie]

GO TIMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D

[sabz]

Good news for you Annie - and i am happy too! ;D

Henman too strong for Rusedski

Tim Henman extended his good run against long-time rival and fellow Briton Greg Rusedski with victory in their first-round match at the US Open.
Henman came through 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-3 in one hour 55 minutes for his seventh straight win over Rusedski, setting up a clash with top seed Roger Federer.

Rusedski went 3-0 up but Henman soon levelled before edging the tie-break.

Henman broke twice in the second set and then again at 4-4 in the third to wrap up a comfortable victory.

Defeat for 1997 US Open runner-up Rusedski in what could be his last Grand Slam event means he has lost in the first round on each of his last four visits to Flushing Meadows.

Henman now faces the unenviable task of ending Federer's quest for a third straight US Open title.

The pair also met at the same stage at Wimbledon with world number one Federer breezing through in straight sets, dropping just six games.

[SAFINNO1]

Rusedski unclear on future plans

Retirement looks close for Rusedski who has been struggling with injury
Greg Rusedski admitted he did not know how long he would play on following his defeat to Tim Henman at the US Open.
Rusedski, who has been struggling with a hip injury for some time, lost 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-3 to his compatriot and will head home to consider his future.

"I gave myself the summer to see how it goes," said the 32-year-old. "It's obviously not perfect. I'm not moving as well as I'd like.

"I still wanted to play at least one more Open and that's what I did."


Interview: Greg Rusedski
Interview: Tim Henman

Long-time rival Henman, a year younger at 31, admitted the prospect of losing Rusedski as a competitor was "strange".

"We've been linked for such a long time," said Henman. "I wouldn't say that we've been the best of friends, but I wouldn't say we've been enemies.

"We've impacted each other's careers in a big, big way.

"If he wasn't able to continue then it would be strange to be playing tournaments without him."

Britain's Josh Goodall could not build on the three wins that saw him come through qualifying as he lost to Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round.
The British number eight fell two sets behind before staging a fightback but eventually succumbed 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3.

[SAFINNO1]

Baker & Mackin named in GB team

Baker has been a hitting partner in Davis Cup before
New Davis Cup captain John Lloyd has selected Jamie Baker and Alan Mackin in his first Great Britain team.
Great Britain play Ukraine in a Euro-Africa Group One relegation tie in Odessa on 22-24 September.

The visitors are likely to rely heavily on British number one Andy Murray and veteran Greg Rusedski.

Baker, 20, will be playing his first tie, while fellow Glaswegian Alan Mackin, 25, has a 1-3 record in Davis Cup singles rubbers.

Lloyd, who succeeded Jeremy Bates as captain after GB's defeat to Israel in July, said: "I have selected a team that has plenty of Davis Cup experience, and who are comfortable playing on clay.

"Andy has been in phenomenal form recently and will come into this tie full of confidence.

"I am very pleased to name Greg in the team, his Davis Cup record and experience will be invaluable for all members of the squad.

Peter Lundgren has a fantastic tennis pedigree and the players are looking forward to working with him

GB coach John Lloyd

"I believe all members of the squad have the ability and temperament to step up and deliver their very best performances during this difficult tie.

"We are all fully aware of the importance of this play-off and are very much looking forward to getting our preparations underway."

Those preparations include a five-day training camp in Vienna, Austria before arriving in Odessa.

Lloyd will be assisted by Peter Lundgren, former coach of world number one Roger Federer, who was appointed on Sunday.

Lloyd said: "He has a fantastic tennis pedigree and I know that all the players are looking forward to working with him.

"We will be training extremely hard in the run-up to this tie to ensure that we are fully prepared and I am confident this will be reflected in a victory."

Great Britain have played Ukraine twice before, winning on both occasions.

[Annie]

Below are the pictures taken by maryb during Wimbledon 2006. Please do not post elsewhere without asking her permission

[SAFINNO1]

This must be one of the weakest tie's that GB have ever played in their history - but still they have guys like John Lloyd, Brad Gilbert and our old coach Peter Lundgren in the minor country of Ukraine

This should be a 5-0 whitewash no matter if it's on clay

Ukraine v Great Britain

Friday (play begins at 0830 BST):
Greg Rusedski v Sergiy Stakhovsky
Andy Murray v Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jnr

Saturday (play begins at 0930 BST)
Murray & Rusedski v Stakhovsky & Dolgopolov Jnr


Sunday (play begins at 0830 BST)
Murray v Stakhovsky
Rusedski v Dolgopolov Jnr

Other News :
Rusedski is 'closer' to retiring

Rusedski admits he is getting slower around the court
Former world number four Greg Rusedski has admitted his retirement from tennis is not far off.
Rusedski says Great Britain's Davis Cup tie with Ukraine this weekend could well be his penultimate appearance in the competition.

"I am getting very much closer to the decision to hang up my racquet," said the 33-year-old.

"I don't want to go out there and not play well and not be able to compete physically."

Rusedski added that one of his remaining targets is to play Davis Cup in front of a home crowd one last time.

"I would like to keep going on for this tie and I would like to be able to play one more time in Great Britain," he said.

"I am hoping some of the younger kids will have kicked me out by then.

"I don't know how much further I am going to go.

"I am definitely slowing down but I still very much enjoy Davis Cup and being part of a team.

"I am feeling very comfortable and my fitness is certainly not a concern for this tie."

[SAFINNO1]

FRIDAY - Battling Brits boost survival bid

Great Britain are poised to win their Davis Cup relegation play-off against Ukraine thanks to two contrasting singles victories on day one in Odessa.

Veteran Greg Rusedski, 33, saved a match point on his way to a memorable 1-6 6-3 5-7 6-4 9-7 win over Sergiy Stakhovsky, 20, in the opening rubber.

Then Andy Murray beat fellow teenager Aleksandr Dolgopolov 6-3 6-4 6-2.

Rusedski and Murray are due to team up in the doubles but skipper John Lloyd has hinted he may now rest Rusedski.
Greg says he feels fine but he is on a high right now," said Lloyd, who could pair either Jamie Delgado or James Baker with Murray.

"We will sleep on it and see how he feels in the morning."

Rusedski found himself broken in the fourth and sixth games by Stakhovsky as the Ukrainian raced through the first set.
The Briton fought back in the second, upping his tempo and claiming the crucial break in the sixth game on his way to taking the set 6-3 and levelling the match.

However, he could not maintain his intensity and Stakhovsky got on top once more towards the end of the third set, breaking at 6-5 to edge in front again.

When he raced into a 3-0 lead in the fourth set it looked as though the Ukrainian number one, who lost to Murray in the final of the junior US Open in 2004, was on his way to victory.

But Rusedski roused himself and won five games in a row as he levelled the match once more.

The final set became a battle of attrition, with chances few and far between.

Stakhovsky saved a Rusedski break point with an ace at 4-3 and three games later Rusedski fought off a Stakhovsky match point with a brave second serve which kicked like a mule off the red Odessa clay.

The crucial break finally came in the 15th game and Rusedski romped though his final service game to give Murray a head start.

"Mentally I think it is one of my strongest games in the Davis Cup and it is where 15 years of experience comes in handy," said Rusedski.

"I did what I had to do out there which was the key. I feel like maybe I am not moving as well as I have been in the past but I still have the spirit out there and that counts for a lot.

"I am stubborn and I refuse to lose. It is hard to accept you cannot do things you have done in the past but you just find a way - and that is what I did today."

Lloyd agreed the win was very special.

"I think it would have to be the greatest Davis Cup performance Greg has played," he said.

At this stage of his career, it was unbelievable - an incredible performance."

Murray, the British number one, had a relatively easy ride against Dolgopolov, ranked 452 in the world.

Murray was forced to save break points in the third and seventh games of the opener before breaking in the fourth game and serving out the set.

Dolgopolov, 17, answered by taking a 2-0 lead in the second, showing plenty of deft touches and decent groundstrokes.

But Murray responded in kind and broke back twice to regain control and served out the set.

The Scot was largely unchallenged in the third, again breaking twice to wrap up the match.

"I was happy with the way I played," said Murray. "I was pretty aggressive when I needed to be and I played fairly well up at the net."

[SAFINNO1]

SATURDAY - Murray & Delgado crash in doubles

Britain missed a chance to preserve their Euro-African Zone status by losing their Davis Cup doubles rubber to Ukraine in Odessa on Saturday.
Andy Murray and Jamie Delgado were comfortable beaten 6-3 6-3 6-3 by Orest Tereshchuk and Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Delgado, a late replacement for Greg Rusedski, was constantly targeted as the weak link in the partnership.

The loss means Britain will have to win one of the two singles matches on Sunday to ensure their survival.

I obviously didn't play at my best today," said Murray. "I didn't serve too well and maybe missed too many reflex volleys.
But give credit to them - they looked like they had played together a lot whereas we had only had one previous Davis Cup match together."

Murray will play Stakhovsky on Sunday in a repeat of the US Open junior final which the Scot won 6-4 6-2.

"I am pretty confident because I beat him comfortably in the US Open juniors and I am obviously a much better player than I was then," said the British number one.

"I played well in my singles on Friday and I have had a great summer and obviously I am expected to win my match on Sunday. I think he has also got better but it is down to me to play well."

Things had looked promising for the British pair early on in their doubles encounter.

They gained two break points on the Stakhovsky serve in the opening game of the match but eventually lost the set 6-3.

Delgado's fallibility on serve was exposed time and again as a far more topsy-turvy second set again fell the way of Ukraine.

The teams swapped breaks of serve at the start of the third set before five wasted break points in a mammoth fifth game and a break of Murray's serve put Ukraine firmly in the driving seat.

The Britons broke back to make it 4-3, but Ukraine again stepped up a gear, breaking Delgado a final time and serving out to seal a crucial victory and send the tie into the last day.

Afterwards, a tearful-looking Delgado could only concede: "I think on the big points those two played pretty well."

The loss caused havoc to Murray's travel plans as he was hoping to leave Odessa on Saturday night and jet straight to Thailand for next week's Bangkok Open.