US Open 2011: Sven’s Postcard

Written by: Staff on 1st September 2011

US Open 2011: Sven's Postcard |

Greg Rusedski was a Canadian-born British serve-volley exponent, who competed on the ATP circuit from 1992-2007… He reached the 1997 US Open final (l. to Rafter), the 1999 Grand Slam Cup final (d. Haas) and won 14 other ATP singles titles (15-12) and two doubles titles (2-2). He attained a career-high No. 4 singles ranking (6 October 1997) and No. 63 double-high (19 June 1995).

He competed for Canada between 1991-95 and represented Great Britain from 22 May 1995, making his Davis Cup debut against Monaco at Eastbourne in July 1995. A stalwart in the team alongside Tim Henman, he played 20 ties until 2007 amassing a 30-13 record (20-10 in singles).

He recorded four wins over World No. 1s (1998 Paris-Sampras, 2001 Australian Open-Kuerten, 2001 Milan-Safin, 2002 Indianapolis-Hewitt) and had a 29-81 overall record against Top 10 opponents.

Rusedski started playing tennis because his father, Tom, a railway worker who is of Ukrainian decent from Canada, had a keen interest in the sport. His mother, Helen, was Yorkshire-born and later moved to Canada. Rusedski’s parents remortgaged their house to fund his tennis career and spent his first 17 years living in Canada. Aged 26, he married long-time girlfriend Lucy Connor, 23, on 4 December 1999 at Douai Abbey in Woolhampton, Berkshire. The couple has one daughter, Scarlett Mary, born on 27 January 2006, one son, John James, born on 1 October 2009, and two cats, Henry and Winston. He has many hobbies and enjoys watching and supporting Arsenal Football Club. He is a huge movie buff and big fan of James Bond films and collects Bond memorabilia. Sean Connery is his favourite Bond and his favourite film is Goldfinger.

As a promising Canadian junior, Rusedski won his first ATP singles match at ATP Masters Canada in August 1992 (d. Laurendeau). In June 1993 he captured his first ATP title on grass at Newport (d. Frana) and finished the year in the Top 50 for the first time. He returned the following year and won his first ATP doubles title at Newport (w/Antonitsch).

The following year, he was the first Briton to finish in the Top 50 since John Lloyd in 1985. Two years later in 1997, he became first British player to finish in the Top 10 and won two titles in a career-high six finals, including first Grand Slam final at US Open (l. to Rafter) and his only Wimbledon quarter-final appearance (l. to Pioline). He was the first Briton to qualify for ATP Tour World Championship. In December 1997, he won the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year award that was voted by the British public.

At Indian Wells in March 1998, he recorded the fastest serve in history (149mph) en route to the final (l. to Rios). He went onto clinch his lone ATP Masters title at Paris (d. No. 1 Sampras) and led the ATP circuit with most indoor victories (33). He served as alternate at ATP Tour World Championship and filled in for an injured Andre Agassi to post two round robin wins (Albert Costa, Henman). He won 53 matches for the second straight year, despite missing two months with a left ankle sprain.

In 1999, he won the Grand Slam Cup in Munich (d. Haas) to finish in Top 15 for third straight year, finished No. 3 in aces (685) for fifth consecutive year (685) and earned a career-high $2,122,535. In 2000 he had an injury-plagued year, following removal of cyst on right foot on 22 December 1999, and failed to win a title for first time since 1994. Two years later, he underwent left foot surgery on 7 October 2002 in Munich, following a US Open third round exit (l. to Sampras). Despite winning his third ATP grass-court title in 2003, it was another injury plagued season, which saw Rusedski slip to his lowest ATP Ranking since 1994 after missing most of season with foot, left knee (surgery on 7 March), shoulder and back injuries.

In January 2004 he admitted he had tested positive for a banned substance at 2003 Indianapolis, but was soon cleared by the Tennis Anti-Doping Program tribunal on 9 March. He responded by capturing the Newport title (d. Popp) and reached another final in Moscow (l. to Davydenko). Rusedski finished in Top 50 for 10th time in his career and won an ATP title (Newport) for fifth straight year.

During the final few years of his career he suffered from back and hip injuries. He spent a total of 98 weeks as Britain’s No. 1 player. Aged 33, he officially announced his retirement in a live interview with Sue Barker on BBC TV, on 7 April 2009, having helped Great Britain beat the Netherlands in a Euro/African Zone play-off tie in Birmingham.

During his career, Rusedski worked with a variety of coaches, some fleeting, including former British Davis Cup captain Warren Jacques, Louis Cayer, George Patrich, Brian Teacher (took Rusedski into the Top 10) Tony Pickard (1997-98, the most successful period of his career), Scott Brooke, 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash (17 days in 2001), Brad Langevard and Sven Groenefeld. Former greats Fred Stolle and Pancho Segura also had occasional input.

In retirement, Rusedski has worked as a television analyst and commentator for Eurosport, Sky Sports and BBC. He has also written columns for The Daily Mirror and The Sun, both British tabloid newspapers… In 2008, he appeared as a contestant on reality TV shows Dancing On Ice and Beat the Star… Rusedski currently works as Great Britain’s junior Davis Cup captain and oversees the development of several junior players.

Bio by: James Buddell from the ATP