NOTTINGHAM, England, June 21: Briton Greg Rusedski put nine months of injury misery behind him to win the Nottingham Open on Saturday.
The 30-year-old, who had not played from September’s U.S. 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.
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.—Reuters
CLIJSTERS WINS
DEN BOSCH: Justine Henin-Hardenne suffered an injury scare two days before Wimbledon when she was forced to retire from the Ordina Open final on Saturday, handing victory to compatriot Kim Clijsters.
French Open champion Henin-Hardenne was leading 7-6 0-1 when she injured her left wrist in a fall, and though she played on to 0-3 she decided to withdraw as a precaution.
The result gave Clijsters, beaten by Henin-Hardenne in the Paris final this month, her fourth title of 2003 and ended her opponent’s 15-match winning streak.
Clijsters is seeded number two at Wimbledon, with Henin-Hardenne at No. 3.
Results:
Men’s singles semifinals Arnaud Clement (France) bt Jan Vacek (Czech Republic) 6-3 6-4; Sjeng Schalken (Netherlands) bt Raemon Sluiter (Netherlands) 6-3 6-4
Women singles final Kim Clijsters (Belgium) b Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) 6-7 (4-7) 3-0, retired (Henin-Hardenne withdrew injured)—Reuters
Rubin retains crown
EASTBOURNE (England): American Chanda Rubin beat Conchita Martinez of Spain 6-4 3-6 6-4 to win her second successive Eastbourne grasscourt tournament boosting her confidence before Wimbledon starts on Monday.
The American second seed used her more aggressive all-court game to overcome the 1994 Wimbledon champion, who fought hard from the baseline.
“This is the first time I’ve come back and defended a title and it feels good,” Rubin, ranked seventh in the world, said.
The start was delayed by two and a half hours after a bomb alert at Devonshire Park near the seafront in this southern English town. Police evacuated the grounds but found nothing suspicious.—Reuters
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