Rusedski back with a bang

Greg Rusedski put his injury problems behind him to complete a winning return to action in the first round of the AAPT Championship in Adelaide.

The British number two was leading Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4 3-1 before rain stopped play yesterday and today wasted little time in wrapping up a 6-4 6-2 success.

He was also boosted by the news that in the second round he will face unseeded Frenchman Cyril Saulnier, who ousted American fourth seed Robby Ginepri 6-3 6-4.

Rusedski had been on the sidelines since losing both his singles matches in last September’s Davis Cup defeat in Morocco.

The 30-year-old injured his back in that tie to cap a disastrous 2003 which also saw him suffer foot and knee problems.

This evening, Tim Henman will bid for a place in the third round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open when he takes on Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela, who yesterday eliminated Belgium’s Olivier Rochus 6-1 3-6 7-5.

Henman began his year with a 6-4 6-0 demolition of Spain’s David Sanchez on Monday.

American Andy Roddick, who finished last year as the world’s top-ranked player, opened his 2004 campaign with a 6-3 6-4 victory over Russian Nikolay Davydenko in the first round of the Doha tournament.