Tennis: Henman follows the lead

BY coincidence, the Newcastle Arena is painted in the Wimbledon colours, purple and green, a timely reminder of David Lloyd's ambition to captain future Davis Cup triumphs against the best in the world on the All England Club's lawns.

Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman responded impressively to the symbolism yesterday, winning their opening singles rubbers against Ukraine and leaving Britain only needing to win this afternoon's doubles to go into next September's qualifying round for the 16-strong World Group.

Henman, in defeating Andrei Medvedev in five sets, extended the splendid form he displayed the previous week at the Lipton Championships in Florida, where his only loss was in the semi-finals to the Chilean Marcelo Rios, who went on to become the world No 1.

Medvedev, on his day one of the most powerful and effective groundstroke players in the game, had been too good for Henman in their previous two meetings. Yesterday the 23-year-old from Oxford started and finished the stronger, winning, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, after three hours and three minutes.

"I played some great tennis, and some average tennis at times," Henman said, "but as long as you win the last point nothing else matters.''

Medvedev did not disguise his disappointment. "It would take a miracle for us to win now," he said, "and I don't believe in miracles.'' Today, partnering Dimitri Poliakov, he is due to face Henman and Neil Broad, the Olympic Games silver medallists.

Henman, the British No 2, attacked Medvedev from the start and created a set point for a 2-0 lead, only for his opponent to snatch it away with a service winner. It was that kind of set, comprising six service breaks in seven games, Medvedev taking the tie-break, 7-4, with an ace down the centre.

Although the third set went Henman's way on his sixth set point, he let down worryingly in the fourth before raising his game to the delight of the 3,500 spectators.

In the opening rubber, Rusedski wore down Andrei Rybalko, the Ukraine No 2, with the power of his serve, conceding only 12 points in the process, four of those with double-faults. He secured the victory, 6-4, 6-0, 6- 4, after 96 minutes, nine and a half of which were expended on the opening game.

Having dropped 11 games against Rybalko when defeating him in three sets in the deciding rubber on a slow clay court in Kiev last July, the British No 1 appeared slightly nervous at the start yesterday, as if conscious that he was expected to blow away an opponent ranked 525 in the world on the pacey carpet.

As Rusedski tried to whittle away at his opponent's confidence, Rybalko saved five break points and fought through seven deuces, succeeding in holding on his third game point.

Rybalko, who took Henman to five sets in the tie in Kiev last July, endeavoured to serve and volley whenever possible, but Rusedski's serve was rarely troubled. He was credited with 20 aces and only once was taken to deuce, in the eighth game of the first set.

In the second set, which was completed in 23 minutes, Rusedski conceded only one point on serve, and after breaking for 2-1 in the third set he dictated the points with such assurance that he was able to be generous when the opportunity presented itself with Rybalko serving at 2-4, 30- 40.

Rusedski, who already had had two break points for 5-2, passed Rybalko with a forehand return, but immediately supported his opponent's claim that his serve had touched the net, indicating to the umpire that the point should be replayed. Rybalko won the game, delaying the inevitable, Rusedski delivering an ace down the centre on the concluding point.

Lloyd had so little to do in terms of motivating his players that given a mobile phone and the indulgence of the officials he would probably have closed a couple of business deals from his chair on the court.