Greg bounces back in style
Greg Rusedski rolled back the years by winning the Hall of Fame Championship in the United States.
He won his first ATP title at the event in Newport, Rhode Island, as a fresh-faced 20-year-old in 1993 when playing under the Canadian flag.
Rusedski reclaimed his place in the world's top 100 yesterday by out-gunning another big-server, Germany's 6ft 7in Alexander Popp, 7-6, 7-6.
And having done enough to regain his status as British No2 behind Tim Henman, he then hit out at critics who had called on him to quit after failing a drugs test at Indianapolis last summer.
His future was in doubt when he spent months away from the circuit fighting the doping allegations. The 31- year- old was eventually cleared of any doping offence after testing positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in July 2003.
A tribunal ruled the organisers of men's tennis, the ATP, were responsible for distributing tablets that appeared to be contaminated by prohibited substances.
On his return to action, Rusedski suffered a first round defeat at the French Open in May, lost early at the Stella Artois championships at Queen's and at Nottingham. He was also knocked out in the second round of Wimbledon.
"My critics were basically telling me to retire," he said. "I'm glad I hung in there. This is the start of a comeback. I've had a miserable two years. It's a great feeling to come back here 11 years later.
"I think the advantage I had over Popp is this was his first final and it was my 25th."
It was the 14th tournament victory of Rusedski's career but his first final since winning the Nottingham Open in June 2003.
Neither player lost his serve in the final as Rusedski saved four break points and Popp three. Rusedski hit 11 aces in the final, lifting his total for five matches in the tournament to 63.
Popp, whose mother is British, said: "I just lost the match because he served a little better."
Rusedski now moves on to Los Angeles for the Mercedes-Benz Cup where he meets American Taylor Dent in the first round.
