He's withdrawn from Bejing. No idea why, but that's one of his last chances to get ranking points before he stops making the direct entry list at ATP tournaments.
-- Edited by UltimateBoggoFan at 07:39, 2006-09-22
Well, he strongly hinted in his press conference at the US open that he wanted to play the Davis Cup and probably retire afterwards. He said his hip injury requires quite major surgery if he wants to continue playing but would be OK if he stopped.
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thats a bit of a shame, it would have been far better for greg to make a final apperance at home on grass, away on clay in ukraine is hardly a fitting end, i am sure he hoped to win a bit at the uso but the draw wasn't kind. will he go to wimbldeon again? i doubt it, he never really had the same results/crowd affection that tim did, so it understandable that the US would be his last.
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I hope if Greg is ready to call it quits that he re-emerges around the grass court season next year and gets to say goodbye properly. It seems a shame that a playoff in the Ukraine would be his last competitive appearance to be honest. :(
I think it is a fitting way to bow out to be honest. I mean, getting Britain back on track Davis Cup wise with a win in Ukraine. Inspiring the young Brit players again, also I think Greg's family originally come from Ukraine. I remember years ago while he and Tim were playing there for Davis Cup that Greg understood the language what they were saying about the British team.
Yeah, I wish Greg could hold out and bow out at Queens, Wimbledon etc, but lets be honest who wants to watch him lose a ton of times between now and then just to go out easily in the first round? It looks like the hip will take him out and he won't get better.
It looks as though Greg will continue on to next year. He's said that he would like to compete for one last time on British soil, in a home DC tie next spring. He hasn't entered any tour events until the end of the year, so it seems that the Aberdeen Cup is going to be his next and final appearance of the year.
From what I read it sounds like he's just going to keep training so he can play DC next April and after that he hopes that some of the younger guys will have kicked him out !!!!!
From the BBC:
Rusedski says Great Britain's Davis Cup tie with Ukraine this weekend could well be his penultimate appearance in the competition.
"I am getting very much closer to the decision to hang up my racquet," said the 33-year-old.
"I don't want to go out there and not play well and not be able to compete physically."
Rusedski added that one of his remaining targets is to play Davis Cup in front of a home crowd one last time.
"I would like to keep going on for this tie and I would like to be able to play one more time in Great Britain," he said.
"I am hoping some of the younger kids will have kicked me out by then.
"I don't know how much further I am going to go.
"I am definitely slowing down but I still very much enjoy Davis Cup and being part of a team.
"I am feeling very comfortable and my fitness is certainly not a concern for this tie."
I don't think it would be right for Greg to play DC next year if he has hardly played any competative Tennis between now and then. I was happy for Greg to play today but the younger players should be in from the first match next year.
Yes, I agree with that. I admit I was very worried about how he would do today, but he did a great job in battling through. The task is however looking harder and harder.
I think he would be better off bowing out after today's success rather than risk his last match being slaughtered by someone next year. Time to retire gracefully, Greg.
(Providing Lloyd doesn't succeed in alienating ALL of our young players before then of course)