NOTTINGHAM, England, 22 June 2003 — Briton Greg Rusedski put nine months of injury misery behind him to win the Nottingham Open yesterday.
The 30-year-old, who had not played from September’s US Open until the Stella Artois championship at Queen’s Club this month following foot, knee, back and arm injuries, comfortably beat American Mardy Fish to win the final 6-3, 6-2.
The British left-hander made the most of some erratic play from his opponent to break early in the first set and then broke twice in the second to close out a one-sided encounter.
Rusedski’s own service was rarely threatened as he took his 13th professional title.
It was a second success in the tournament for Rusedski, who also took the Lawn Tennis Association-run event in 1997 when rain forced the final to be played indoors.
Rusedski, who earned 38,250 pounds ($64,060) for his victory, said he felt fitter than ever despite his layoff.
“I worked extremely hard on my fitness for those nine months,” he told Sky Sports. “I must have done about 20,000 miles on my stationary bike.
Rusedski, who shares the world-record service speed at 149 mph (239.8 kph) with Wimbledon fifth seed and recent Stella Artois winner Andy Roddick, struck six aces on his way to victory.
The Briton is unseeded at Wimbledon and faces a meeting with Roddick, who beat him at Queen’s, in the second round if he can beat German Alexander Waske in the first.
Clijsters Claims Victory as
Injured Henin Abandons Final
In S’hertogenbosch, Netherlands, Belgian number one seed Kim Clijsters won the $170,000 WTA grasscourt event yesterday after compatriot Justine Henin-Hardenne was forced to pull out with a hand injury just two days before Wimbledon begins.
Flemish-speaking Clijsters, who beat Barbara Rittner of Germany to reach the final, was looking to take her revenge on her French-speaking compatriot who sailed past her two weeks ago to win the singles title at the French Open.
However Clijsters, who lost a tight first set 6-7 on the tiebreak after failing to make the best of two set points, was hardly given a chance to compete after Henin slipped while being led 1-0 in the second set and fell, injuring the fingers on her left hand.
Shortly afterward, Henin decided to call it a day — a decision which left many spectators disappointed as it had been an exciting match until that point.
In a tense first set Clijsters raced to a 3-1 lead and twice had chances to seal the set at 5-3 and 5-4 before Henin fought back to force a tiebreak. Henin, who in winning at Roland Garros became the first Belgian woman to win a Grand Slam event, was again led in the tiebreak as Clijsters raced to a 4-2 lead however she came fighting back to claim the tiebreak 7-4 on her first set point.However Henin’s joy soon turned sour. Down 1-0, the world number three slipped and fell. After receiving treatment then playing on till Clijsters was leading 3-0, she decided to abandon.
“I’ve hurt my fingers quite badly and I really can’t continue,” Henin said over the microphone to the 5000 spectators.
Rubin Retains Eastbourne
Title After Tough Final
In Eastbourne, England, American Chanda Rubin overcame stubborn resistance from Conchita Martinez of Spain to win her second Eastbourne grasscourt title 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 boosting her confidence before Wimbledon starts tomorrow.
The American second seed used her more aggressive all-court game to down the 1994 Wimbledon champion, who fought hard from the baseline and was hampered by a wrist injury. “This is the first time I’ve come back and defended a title and it feels good,” Rubin, ranked seventh in the world, said.
“She’s a tough player on any surface...I really had to be smart and mix it up, using serve and volley even though I wasn’t going to win all those points,” Rubin added.
Saturday’s start was delayed by two and a half hours after a bomb alert at Devonshire Park, which is near the seafront in this southern English town. Police evacuated the grounds but found nothing suspicious.
Rubin said the delay had been frustrating and it appeared to affect both players in the 42-minute first set, with seven out of the 10 games going against serve. Both women have been enjoying something of a revival this season and both reached the quarterfinals of the French Open earlier this month. They had met 11 times before with 31-year-old Martinez winning nine. The Spaniard was on top baseline form in the second set, mixing topspin with heavy slice to force Rubin to the corners of the court.
