'Donkey' Rusedski crashes to Henman

13 April 2012

Greg Rusedski said he "served like a donkey" as he crashed to defeat against British No 1 Tim Henman here today.

Henman beat the British No2 6-2, 7-6 and the Canadian-born loser admitted: "Some days at the moment I could lose to my grandmother."

Rusedski, attempting to rebuild his game, ranking and career, must have hoped for a kinder first round draw at the Australian Men's Hardcourt Championships than to find himself pitted against a determined Henman. No doubt Rusedski's latest coach, 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash, urged him to think of the match as an opportunity to kick-start the new season.

Yet there was an inevitability about the defeat. The second set was better than the first, but his efforts were ruined when he served three double faults in the tie-break.

Not once during the match - their first encounter since Henman won at Indian Wells two years ago - did Rusedski come close a break point.

But he came near to breaking point when he trailed 4-2 in the first set. He surrendered a 40-0 advantage on his own serve to hand Henman a break.

Boiling with frustration in the 97-degree heat, Rusedski screamed the F-word. Presumably the umpire sympathised with him, for no action was taken.

After the match a glum Rusedski admitted: "It's very hard when you change your forehand, your backhand, your serve and your return all within a month and then try to play a tournament.

"I have to do it because my body was breaking down on me too much last year. Even finishing as low as 64 in the rankings last year was a big effort for me.

"Today I was totally outplayed in the first set. During the second set things came together nicely and I might have been on for a three-setter if I hadn't served like a donkey in the tie-break.

"The plus was that for most of the second set even with all those changes to my game I was right in it against the guy who is No 10 in the world.

"I need matches, so I'm going to have to go and qualify for the tournaments in Sydney or Auckland before the Australian Open.

"It could be pretty ugly. Sometimes I feel like I'm hitting my head against a wall, asking myself why I can't just do things like I used to be able to."

Henman added: "Sport is about confidence. If you get into a habit of winning it's much more enjoyable. But it's difficult to make changes and be competing at the same time."

Meanwhile, defending champion Lleyton Hewitt defeated fellow Aussie Wayne Arthurs 6-4, 6-3 and Arnaud Clement, the No 3 seed, beat Italian Andrea Gaudenzi 6-7, 6-0, 6-3.

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