Sergiy Stakhovsky is ranked 184 with a career high of 173 reached earlier this year. He's had an ok year, reaching 2 challenger semis but has done nothing else. He's been beaten by Boggo and Martin Lee [on grass in straights]. He had an average junior career up until the 2004 US Open when he stormed through the draw to reach the final. Burst onto the scene in early 2005 by qualifying for ATP Milan and reaching the quarters, upsetting Mario Ancic. Since then he's reached a few challenger semis but his ranking his plateaued out. He's play 1 DC tie before, losing all 3 rubbers to Belgium [Vliegen and Elseneer beat him].

Rusedski says that his hip is feeling a lot better at the moment and he's confident of coming away with a victory. He feels that the clay courts in Odessa suit him because they're like the ones in Rome which are faster than usual [Rusedski had his best result of the year there, reaching rd3]. "The clay is a lot less taxing than hard courts because you can slide into the ball," he said yesterday. "The surface is pretty quick and the courts are quite slippery, so you can play an attacking game, which suits me."

Speaking ahead of the tie John Lloyd said “The way things have gone this week, and particularly the huge positive approach that has come from Greg since he arrived here on Sunday, I am hugely confident of ending the first day with a 2-0 lead,” said Lloyd who is clearly intent on victory in two days after naming a Rusedski/Murray tandem for Saturday’s doubles.

“Greg really is 110 per cent committed to the cause and is going to give it his all. Just his presence here has been great for the younger players but he has been going so well in practice that you just have to go with him. I really wasn’t too sure what to expect after hearing the things he was saying at the US Open about this probably being his last ever match but he’s had a few weeks' rest and then has worked so hard.

“He is still a player who comes with a big reputation and the youngsters in the Ukraine team will obviously be aware of what Greg has done in the game. Right now he is just what we need in the team but everything he’s said this week makes me think he will still be around to play next year.”