Rusedski WON'T retire next season.

Salmon · Tennis legend

Rusedski WON'T retire next season.

VSandhi20 · Futures qualifying

Well its looks it he playing till the DC tie in April. he's not playing AO qualies so do you think he may play the wrexham challenger? Also, he probably play in some of ATP indoors qualies in march unless again hes going to play challengers in bergamo etc.

Sheddie · administrator

I doubt that AO authorities will even consider giving Greg a wildcard unfortunately as he hasn't been past rd4 there. It is a bit much considering the vast number of wildcards we've given Scud over the years.

Wimbledon and Queens ought to have included a sub clause [in very small print

] which would say that for each wildcard they give Scud, a British player could get a wildcard into the Australian Open main draw whenever the LTA wanted to give he/she one.
That way we could of had Greg, Boggo and Bloomfield in this year's main draw [and possibly Goodall, Baker and Mackin aswell

]

The LTA could try and do an agreement with tennis australia so that a British player got a WC in return for an Aussie getting a wildcard into Wimbledon, but in that case I'd rather that Boggo got it instead of Greg.

I think it's very likely he'll play the Wrexham challenger, he says he's hoping for some wildcards into the indoor ATPs. Maybe Rotterdam will give one, he's done well there in the past, Milan aswell.

Sheddie · administrator

Greg told the Sun:

“Physically, my body is good and that has been the biggest problem since injuring my hip in the summer.

“I’m definitely going to play next year. I don’t know how much. I’ve spoken to John Lloyd and if selected, I’d love to play in Birmingham.

“I am already really looking forward to it, in terms of playing in front of a home crowd.

“To maintain my fitness, I will try to get a few wild cards to events. If I have to, I will play a few smaller events, maybe some Challengers.

“I enjoy my tennis and it’s difficult to know when to call it a day. I am closer to the end, I know that.”

Rusedski, now ranked world No 193, is coy if asked whether he would still be around to return to Centre Court for one final time in June.

He said: “I cannot look that far, I am not there yet. All I know is that I will play in the Davis Cup if selected.

“But I certainly won’t be going to Australia.

“It is my daughter’s first birthday on December 27, so at least I won’t miss that.”

Salmon · Tennis legend

ultimateshedman wrote:

I doubt that AO authorities will even consider giving Greg a wildcard unfortunately as he hasn't been past rd4 there. It is a bit much considering the vast number of wildcards we've given Scud over the years.

If the LTA gives that as an excuse for not asking for a WC, I'll mail them with a reminder that Mardy Fish hasn't progressed past the second round at Queens.

Sheddie · administrator

Quite right too !

However, from what I've read, I don't think Greg wants to play the Aussie Open even if he's offered a wildcard as it would require spending several weeks training beforehand in hot climes to get himself ready. Quite understandably he says he wants to spend Christmas with his family at home this year plus there's the fact that his daughter's birthday comes up shortly afterwards.