Rusedski is ready to serve up super show

Greg Rusedski has plummeted to 108 in the world rankings, but is out to prove he is far better than that in today's Davis Cup tie with Morocco.

He believes he can show he is back on form when he plays world No19 Younes El Aynaoui in the second match today of a tie Britain have to win to avoid relegation from the World Group.

Injury and loss of form has taken its toll on the British No2 recently, but he said: "Andre Agassi dropped down even lower during one point in his career. But he is now the world No1 to prove you can get back up the rankings.''

Rusedski, a former US Open finalist, was beaten in five sets at this year's championship by unseeded Frenchman Gregory Carraz.

"My US Open first-round loss was very hard to accept because I just wasn't myself, mentally or physically. I don't think that had happened ever before and it was a shock. I always fight in matches but didn't in New York.

"After I got back home to London I took a long hard look at myself and knew I wanted to continue playing.

"Having been through that awful experience, I know I never want to have to deal with it again and that's why I have put the hard work in and now feel full of confidence going into this match.

"I have had a good career already, but I am nowhere near finished and I know that everyone on the tour fears my serve when it's working properly."

It was the Rusedski serve, which has reached a world record-equalling 149mph, that was so poor at the US Open. It needs to be firing on all cylinders against El Aynaoui today.

A five-hour marathon with Andy Roddick at the Australian Open raised the Moroccan's profile.

He was also in great form at Wimbledon and the US Open to consolidate his ranking inside the world's top 20.

That puts him light years ahead of Rusedski in terms of ranking and confidence and if the British left-hander does emerge victorious, it will be one of his greatest career wins.

Before Rusedski gets his chance to prove the doubters wrong, Tim Henman will play Hicham Arazi, who has just two victories in 10 meetings with the British No1.

Henman believes past results count for nothing when it comes to the Davis Cup and he also needs to recapture previous form, most notably that which inspired the brilliant Cup victory against Thailand.