Rusedski beats young pretender

GREG RUSEDSKI brushed aside British rival Martin Lee 6-3, 6-2 to clinch a place in the semi-finals of the Samsung Open at Nottingham this afternoon.

It was a match Rusedski had to win. Lee - a lucky loser into the tournament after Fabrice Santoro withdrew - was determined to make his mark in a contest which ended a five-year mission by the 23-year-old to play someone at the top of the British rankings.

But Rusedski gave Lee no chance of pulling ahead and admitted afterwards: "Martin played well, especially in the first few games, and then dipped slightly in the second."

Former Wimbledon champion Lindsay Davenport shrugged off doubts about her fitness as she came through only her second match in three months to reach the last four of the Britannic Asset Management Championships at Eastbourne today. Davenport beat 27-year-old Italian Silvia Farina-Elia 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, but she was quick to admit she is still finding her way back after a knee injury.

With her right knee cap strapped, Davenport said: "I don't think I am match tough right now. I am a little slow reaching the ball and it took me a while to get into the match."

Meanwhile, Karen Cross is into Wimbledon's main first round draw after beating higher-ranked Russian Alina Jidkova 7-5, 6-3.