THE tennisreporters.net NEWSLETTER: SUNday, May 16, NO. 85

Is Rusedski in an irreversible nosedive?
Partying like Beckham; Lucy: 'Suddenly, he became a Canadian, not a Brit'

By Eleanor Preston
Special to tennisreporters.net

Fred Mullane/Camerawork USA

Rusedski hasn't been the same following androlone episode and long layoffs.

Whether the Briton is in any shape to make the most of his upturn in luck is another matter. Rusedski has yet to win a singles match since the anti-doping tribunal's decision, and while much of that poor record can be put down to bad timing – clay never was his strong point – there are signs that his career may be in irreversible nosedive despite the favorable verdict.

Rusedski, to the bemusement of many within tennis, employs the services of both his own PR representative and uber-agents IMG, but calls to either do little to clarify the confusion about where the former US Open finalist's career is heading, or even what country he is expected in next. According to his PR rep, he was all set to be on the first plane to Rome to compete in qualifying two weeks ago, yet when he didn't show, an IMG spokesman seemed less than surprised.

"That's wasn't very well researched, was it?" he snapped. "He was never likely to do that."

When it was revealed afterwards that Rusedski and his wife, Lucy, were seen at soccer star David Beckham's birthday party two days later (where they were apparently amongst the last to leave), tennis tittle-tattlers were asking just how seriously Rusedski is taking his career these days.

"We had a lovely time and it was a great party," said Lucy afterwards.

The same IMG spokesman suggested Rusedski might go to try and get into the doubles qualifying competition in Hamburg. Instead, after another late change of mind, he played the San Remo Challenger, where he lost 6-3 6-4 to No. 191 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the first round.

OUT OF ACTION FOR HALF OF LAST TWO YEARS
Whatever the mixed messages coming from Rusedski's people, the man himself seems to be struggling to get his tennis back into gear. It's hardly surprising given his long absences from the court during the last two seasons. He did not play between the '02 US Open – where he lost to Pete Sampras and afterwards made a few ill-advised predictions about his conqueror – and April 2003. He was again absent from September (when he heard about his positive test for nandrolone) until January this year (when the news of the test was made public). Since March, when he was cleared, he has played two singles matches and lost both.

He returned to match play in Davis Cup in April, during Great Britain's away tie in Luxembourg, when he and Tim Henman teamed up in doubles but when he tried to play on his own things went downhill. He lost in the first round of the Bermuda Challenger a couple of weeks later, beaten 7-6 6-3 by Germany's unseeded Bjorn Phau.

Greg and Lucy Rusedski.

Interestingly, while her husband's career continues its downward spiral, Lucy seems to be coming into her own. While her husband has been silent in recent weeks, Mrs. Rusedski, who shares the same PR rep, has given interviews to several magazines and newspapers and seems set to launch her own career.

"Failing a drug test is just about the worst thing that can happen to an athlete. But when you see someone as strong as Greg falling apart, you go into another gear," she told the Mail on Sunday magazine. "I couldn't crumble. I had to find the strength to make him believe that no matter what, all would be OK."

Lucy may find it hard to make an impact in show business. Even before the Rusedski's positive test her stock wasn't exactly on the rise. She and her sister Oonagh were employed by the BBC to provide off-court reports during last year's Wimbledon, something she has since described as "my big break," but they have not had their contract renewed.

She will, at least, be free to cheer her husband during what is left of the clay court season and, perhaps with more conviction, during the British grass-court tournaments. Rusedski may play the Surbiton Challenger on grass before picking up the wildcard the organisers of the Stella Artois tournament will surely offer him. He will then be expected at the Nottingham Open, where he is defending champion, before heading to Wimbledon.

"When Greg was accused most of the newspapers were not supportive," railed Lucy to the London Evening Standard. "Suddenly, he became a Canadian, not a Brit. [He was born in Canada but took British nationality nine years ago.] We've been used to that. He's never been truly accepted. But I think the public supported him."

Perhaps the public should enjoy him while they can. This may well be his last Wimbledon and the signs are there that his turbulent career may soon be drawing to a close.