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January 12, 2001
Rusedski Roars to Auckland Crown

Greg Rusedski captured his 11th career ATP title by defeating
Frenchman Jerome Golmard 6-7(0), 6-4, 7-5 in the rain-
interrupted singles final of the Heineken Open in Auckland.
The Briton, playing in his 22nd ATP final, held his nerve when
it mattered most to seal his fifth successive three-set victory
with his 12th ace of the match.

"It's very nice to start off by winning the first tournament
of the year, especially the way I did it," said Rusedski. "I
really had to work hard with rain delays, every match went the
distance, and I've beaten a lot of good players."

Each one of Rusedski's matches against Mariano Zabaleta, Michal
Tabara, Goran Ivanisevic and Jiri Novak en route to the final
went to three sets. "I think having three-set matches every round,
nothing surprised me when I dropped a set, " said Rusedski.
" I just raise my level when I get behind in a tough match.
Whenever I've needed to lift, I've managed to lift and that is
the key. Sometimes the best opportunity is right after a guy wins
a set and he has a little dip."

Rusedski, who faces Scott Draper in the first rond of the
Australian Open, goes to Melbourne full of confidence after
defeating Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic for the first time in
10 meetings in the quarterfinals "This is the best start for the
year so far in my career and all the players who have won here in
the past have gone on to do well at the Australian Open," he said.

After the final, Golmard, who was playing in his fourth ATP final,
said: "I was very nervous, especially at the end of the match. At
the beginning, I tried to play my game like I did the whole week,
but the greatest difference was that he was a lefty, so he read my
services better."