Rusedski wins with a little help from friends

Greg Rusedski took a determined victory over Juan Ignacio Chela in the opening round of the adidas International in Sydney.

Four days after admitting he had tested positive for nandrolone, during which time he has launched an aggressive defence and attacked the ATP, Rusedski had to get back to his day job and win a tennis match.

After a shaky start against the Argentine, who knows just what it means to be at the wrong end of a drugs furore after being banned himself for three months in 2001, he did just that.

Rusedski came to the net repeatedly and despite a couple of wobbles, particularly late on where he saved two second-set points, volleyed his way to a 7-6 (7/1) 7-6 (7/5) win.

“I have had so much overwhelming support from my family, from my friends, from the fans – it has been great,” Rusedski said immediately after the game.

“Everyone has been extremely supportive, that is what I draw my strength from. There is a lot of English people in the crowd who are supporting me and dealing with the situation. They have been just fantastic.

“The support has been brilliant so thumbs up for their support out there.”

On Thursday, Rusedski admitted ATP drug testers had discovered excessive amounts of nandrolone in his system, but claimed he has been “singled out” because 46 other players also tested positive for varying levels of the banned steroid.

In Sydney, Rusedski has kept as low a profile as possible, practising hard and reiterating his determination to play on despite the furore his announcement created.

But with no entourage in tow and facing a constant barrage of questions and media interest, it was intriguing to witness how Rusedski could deal with the pressures.

At first it looked bad for him as Chela forced a break of serve in the opening game.

But Rusedski continued with his tactic of coming to the net, forcing the pace and with Chela serving 3-2 up, it paid dividends as he won back a break of serve.

It was met with a punch of the air and the applause of the crowd at the Sydney International Tennis Centre, who had reacted to Rusedski’s arrival on court with encouraging support.

Rusedski saved four break points to move 6-5 up but then romped through the tiebreak, winning seven straight points to claim the set 7-6 in a little under an hour.

He continued that momentum into the start of the second set too, breaking Chela first up and then confidently holding his own serve to move 2-0 ahead as he appeared to grow in confidence.

But faced with serving for the match at 5-4, Rusedski stuttered and was broken courtesy of a passing winner down his forehand line from Chela.

He then saved two set points at 6-5 down, both with aces, before taking the match into a second tiebreak which he led 4-0 after a series of wonderful volleys before Chela responded.

At 5-5 it was anyone’s set, but a kick-serve from Rusedski was enough to force a poor return from Chela, earning him match point which he duly converted to the cheers of the Sydney crowd.