Rusedski targets US Open after fightback earns title

Greg Rusedski certainly means business at the US Open. The British No 2 beat Felix Mantilla to win the RCA Championships in Indianapolis on Sunday and immediately set his sights on claiming his first Grand Slam title at the US Open, which starts on Monday.

Rusedski last won an ATP title in Auckland at the start of the year, but has hit top form over the past two weeks and has beaten the world's top-ranked three players.

The 28-year-old knocked out the world No 2, Marat Safin, in last week's Masters Series event at Cincinnati before a stunning win over the world No 1 and Wimbledon champion, Lleyton Hewitt, in the third round of these championships and then secured a semi-final win over Tommy Haas of Germany.

Rusedski, who is now up to No 41 in the rankings, feels he has a real chance of going one better than he did in 1997 when he finished as runner-up to Pat Rafter at the US Open.

"I'm excited about winning this [Indianapolis] trophy because this tournament has had great champions in the past," he said. "Many of those have gone on to have great success at the US Open and I hope to do the same.

"In the past two weeks I've won a tournament and beaten the top three players in the world, so I have to think that not too many people will want to see my name in the first round of the US Open.

"It's good for me because I feel like I've been battling back for two years, since I was six in the world and I think I've been very close to breaking through. This will help me to be able to do that."

Rusedski recovered from the loss of yesterday's opening set tie-break, amid some controversy, to win 6-7, 6-4, 6-4. The Canadian-born big hitter lost his temper when, at set point down in the tie-break, Mantilla hit a return which looked long but was adjudged in play.

The British No 2 was furious and threw his racket down in disgust, but the decision stood. To his credit, Rusedski regained his composure to break at 4-3 in the second set and held his serve to level the match. Rusedski broke the Spaniard again in the seventh game of the final set and then battled back from 40-0 down in the next to hold his service game before going on to close out the match 6-4 and take the title.

Mantilla said: "Greg served very well and that made it tough for me. He deserved to win it because of all the pressure he put on me. When he's serving huge it makes it bad for you."

Rusedski will finish his preparations for the final Grand Slam of the year by playing the TD Waterhouse Cup in Long Island next week.

"I was determined not to lose my serve in the final and I was acing a few break points," Rusedski said. "I stuck to my game plan and came up with some great volleys to stay ahead. This win is very good for my confidence."

Lleyton Hewitt has kept up his attack on the ATP, who run the men's tour. Claiming he is ready to give up his No 1 ranking after being fined for failing to give a television interview in Cincinnati, Hewitt said: "There are times when you feel like [walking away]... it is a great sport if the ATP would just get out of the way," the 21-year-old said.