Rusedski marches into final

Greg Rusedski strode into the final of the Sybase Open as Belgian qualifier Xavier Malisse proved no match for the eighth-seeded Briton.  

The pair had never faced each other before but 1997 finalist Rusedski found his 20-year-old opponent a pushover as he won 6-4 6-2.

Malisse had already beaten one left-hander with a fierce serve in Goran Ivanisevic, who he disposed of in the second round, before dumping out Tommy Haas in the quarter-finals.

But against Rusedski, who led the tournament in first serve point-winning percentage prior to the match, he was unable to impose himself and lost in one hour and six minutes.

Rusedski, who suffered an embarrassing second-round defeat by Russian teenager Dmitry Tursunov in Memphis last week, served eight aces in the match and won 84% of points on first serve.

Adding in 29 winners and just 13 unforced errors, it was a performance of the utmost professionalism by Rusedski against an opponent who finished last season ranked 127th in the ATP rankings.

Rusedski fired down one giant serve of 139mph and goes on to face the winner of the match between top seed Andre Agassi and his fellow American Jan-Michael Gambill.

In four matches against Agassi, Rusedski's only win came at this event on his way to the 1997 final where he retired hurt while trailing Pete Sampras.