Tennis: British duo aim for US final showdown

TIM HENMAN and Greg Rusedski have been seeded to meet in the US Open final.

Yesterday's draw gave Henman, the British No 1, an opening round match against Guillermo Canas, of Argentina. In the fourth round Richard Krajicek, of the Netherlands, awaits him and Andre Agassi in the semi-final.

Juan Carlos Ferrero, of Spain, provides Rusedski's first round opponent and Pete Sampras, will be waiting for the British No 2 in the quarter-final.

Sampras and Agassi could disrupt the all-British final. The American's are seeded No 1 and 2 respectively. Sampras could have a tough opening round match against the 33rd-ranked Marat Safin, of Russia. Andre Agassi, the French Open champion, starts his campaign against Nicklas Kulti of Sweden, while the defending champion, Patrick Rafter, of Australia, meets Cedric Pioline, of France.

In the women's draw, the world No 1, Martina Hingis of Switzerland, plays Kveta Hrdlickova of the Czech Republic. Lindsay Davenport, the No 2 seed, begins the defence of her title against her fellow American and doubles partner, Corina Morariu.

Rusedski's preparations for the US Open picked up pace on Tuedsay when, as No 1 seed, he overcame the loss of the first set in a the tiebreak, before beating Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark, 6-7, 6-2, 7-5, in the MFS Pro Championships in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Rusedski is playing his first event since July when he was sidelined by problems with a toe on his left foot.