Rusedski ready for Roddick

The drugs controversy to hit this Aussie Open has centred on three women - Svetlana Kuznetsova, Elena Dementieva and Nathalie Dechy.

Belgian Sports Minister Claude Eerdekens claimed one of the three, then specifically Russia's Kuznetsova, the US Open champion, had tested positive for the stimulant ephedrine in Charleroi on 19 December.

However, the Women's Tennis Association, the governing body for female players, are furious news leaked out to the media.

Kuznetsova looks certain to escape punishment even if it is confirmed that she tested positive, because it was during an exhibition in Belgium.

Rusedski expressed his sympathy today, adding: "I feel for the women players who have been caught up in the Belgian test situation and this kind of thing should never be made public until there is a tribunal.

"The organiser should have keep his mouth shut and dealt with it properly."

Rusedski, whose victory follows the success of British girl Elena Baltacha yesterday, says he is ready to employ a coach again.

He said: "I worked very hard for this championships with a physical trainer at the LTA for four hours a day to get stronger and after this tournament I will be looking for a new coach to work with me when I am at home and at the grand slams.

"I think I need that extra help right now and, because I am feeling so healthy, I can commit to someone.

"I would like to have somebody to bounce ideas off because I want to be the best I can. I have never taken shortcuts in my career and I want to give it a shot."

Rusedski has shed a number of coaches in his career including Pat Cash, the former Wimbledon champion, and he is looking for the kind of flexible relationship that Tim Henman has with Paul Annacone.

Henman does not travel to every tournament with Annacone but is able to use him at specific times of the season.

For Rusedski, just being able to put himself onto a court at a slam event against a player of Roddick's standing is a major achievement and there is no doubting his desire to pull off big wins in the time still left to him at the highest level.

He explained: "Having gone through what I had to go through last year and the year before that with the injuries, you're could get weaker and disappear and fall off the planet, which I could have done when I was 168 in the world.

"But I decided I was going to fight back and got to the top 50, which I think is one of my best accomplishments as a professional player.

"What I have gone through has made me stronger. I'm going to enjoy it and give everything I can to this game. I'd like to try to get back in the top 20, if not try to get back in the top 10.

"I like to set high goals. If I accomplish them, great. If not, it's better to be higher than lower. You need something to fight for and to strive for. That's why I am so excited about Thursday's match with Roddick because that will be another step forward to see where I am."

Roddick holds a 3-1 career advantage over Rusedski, with their most recent meeting leaving the British No2 in all sorts of trouble.

It was their infamous 2003 Wimbledon clash, which featured a line call from a voice in the crowd, an incident that really annoyed Rusedski, who was confused by the call and thought it had come from an official.

He let fly with a volley of bad language at the umpire during the changeover, which was broadcast to the nation by the BBC, forcing the left-hander to offer a public apology.

Roddick, who beat Georgia's Irakli Labadze 7-5, 6-2, 6-1 in his first-round match, said: "He took me apart at Wimbledon in 2002 and I have got him three times since then.

"It will be a tricky match because Greg will try and force his game on me. I have an ankle injury but it's not hindering me at the moment and it won't be a problem."

TENNIS legend Rod Laver will be unable to present the trophy to the men's champion because his wife Mary is seriously ill in America.

JUAN IGNACIO CHELA, the No25 seed f rom Argentina, beat Australia's Wayne Arthurs 6-4, 7-6, 7-6. Chela overcame Arthurs' big serve and used his passing shots to great effect.

GUILLERMO CANAS, who defeated Tim Henman in the third round last year and could face the British No1 in the fourth round this year, beat Australian Chris Guccione 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 to move into the second round.

DAVID NALBANDIAN, of Argentina recovered from two sets to one down to eventually overcome Spain's David Ferrer. Nalbandian, the ninth seed, was in danger of only his second ever first-round exit at a Grand Slam before fighting back to claim a 7-6, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.

GUILLERMO CORIA beat Czech teenager Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in just over an hour and a half. The Argentine No6 seed, runner-up at last year's French Open, had been troubled by a sore back but showed no signs of discomfort. He will next play either Brazilian Ricardo Mello or Alberto Martin, of Spain. SELECTED RESULTS

Men's singles, first round: G Coria (6, Arg) bt T Berdych (Cze) 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. M Youzhny (15, Rus) bt J Haehnel (Fra) 6-2, 6-2, 7-5. A Pavel (17, Rom) bt O Mutis (Fra) 6-4, 6-4, 6-0. G Canas (12, Arg) bt C Guccione (Aus) 6-4, 6-2, 7-6. S Grosjean (14, Fra) bt M Llodra (Fra) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. G Rusedski (Gbr) bt J Bjorkman (Swe) 2-6, 6-4, 6-0, 7-6. A Roddick (2, US) bt I Labadze (Geo) 7-5, 6-2, 6-1. D Nalbandian (9, Arg) bt D Ferrer (Spn) 7-6, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. J Blake (US) bt FMayer (Ger) 6-1, 6-2, 6-0. L Hewitt (3, Aus) bt A Clement (Fra) 6-3, 6-4, 6-1.

Women's singles, first round: D Hantuchova (26, Svk) bt A Morigami (Jpn) 6-4, 7-5. L Raymond (25, US) bt A Yakimova (Bel) 6-0, 6-1. A Molik (10, Aus) bt A Medina Garrigues (Spn) 6-1, 6-3. A Myskina (3, Rus) bt K Peschke (Cze) 6-1, 6-4. K Sprem (13, Cro) bt M Adamczak (Aus) 6-2, 6-3. P Schnyder (12, Swi) bt Y Fedak (Ukr) 6-1, 6-1. E Dementieva (6, Rus) bt A Bondarenko (Ukr) 6-3, 6-3. E Likhovtseva (18, Rus) bt S Mamic (Cro) 6-3, 6-3. V Williams (8, US) bt E Daniilidou (Gre) 6-1, 7-5. L Davenport (1, US) bt C Martinez (Spn) 6-1, 6-0.