NOTTINGHAM, England, 21 June 2003 — Greg Rusedski put his injury nightmare behind him and gave his Wimbledon preparatons a shot in the arm by advancing to his first final in almost a year here yesterday.
The British number two swept Morocco’s Hicham Arazi aside 7-5, 7-5 in straight sets to give himself a shot at a 13th career title.
Today’s final against American Mardy Fish will be Rusedski’s first since he won at Indianapolis last summer. Fish, the eighth seed, set up his first meeting with the Briton by ousting defending champion Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-4.
Canadian-born left-hander Rusedski has only just resumed competitive tennis after undergoing foot and knee surgery at the end of last year.
He even recently admitted that he had thought of quitting after a neck injury derailed his recovery plans.
Hardenne to Meet Clijsters
in Ordina Open
In Den Bosch, Netherlands, Belgian duo Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters set up a reprise of their French Open final clash after they won their semifinals at the Ordina Open yesterday.
But while Clijsters was impressive in her 6-2, 6-1 defeat of German Barbara Rittner, French Open champion Henin-Hardenne was pushed to the limit as she came from a set and 4-1 down to beat Russian Nadia Petrova 5-7, 7-6, 6-3.
In the men’s event, defending champion Sjeng Schalken moved a step closer to a second straight Den Bosch title as he beat Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-4 to reach the semifinals.
Top seed Jiri Novak suffered a shock defeat as he was beaten by fellow Czech Jan Vacek. Vacek, who also won their only previous meeting, came from a break down in the second set to win 6-4, 6-4 and set up a clash with seventh seed Arnaud Clement.
Clement, runner-up to Schalken last year, reached the semifinals by beating Spaniard Fernando Vicente 4-6, 6-3, 6-0.
Rubin Survives Two Match
Points to Beat Capriati
In Eastbourne, England, Defending champion Chanda Rubin saved two match points before beating fellow American Jennifer Capriati 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 in the semifinals of the Eastbourne championships yesterday.
The number two seed will face 1994 Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez in the final after the Spaniard brushed aside Italy’s Silvia Farina Elia 6-2, 6-4 on a scorching center court.
