TENNIS: Rusedski is ready to double up

DES O'CONNOR Tonight, the World Group tomorrow. British tennis is on the up. Happily, Greg Rusedski's television appearance has been pre-recorded, so there is no question of a hectic dash to London from the Davis Cup promotion tie against India. And we have it on good authority that the only person Rusedski is likely to join in a duet is Tim Henman.

The identity of Britain's doubles team tomorrow depends largely on the outcome of today's two singles matches. Rusedski, the British No 2, opens against Leander Paes, India's No 1 by the length of the Ganges. Henman then plays Mahesh Bhupathi, a fine doubles player whose experience at singles is summarised by a world ranking of No 363. Paes and Bhupathi are ranked No 3 among the world's top doubles teams.

Although David Lloyd has nominated Henman and Neil Broad, the 1996 Olympic Games silver-medallists, the rules allow captains to change the doubles teams up to an hour before tomorrow's rubber. "If we're two-nil up, and Rusedski and Henman have blitzed their opponents in straight sets and there are no injuries, then I'll probably play Greg and Tim together," Lloyd said. "But I'm keeping my options open. I'm pleased to have three possible permutations." Rusedski and Henman successfully partnered each other in the two most recent ties against Ukraine, in Kiev in July 1997, and in Newcastle, in April this year. Rusedski, not the keenest of doubles players, is willing to weigh in with Lloyd's wishes. "We got the job done," he said with a wry smile, recalling tie-breaks in each of the final sets in the matches against Ukraine.

Emphasis on the doubles is understandable. Whatever befalls India today, they will fancy their chances of unsettling Britain tomorrow and keeping the tie alive for Sunday. The Indians specialise in unsettling more fancied opposition, which is why they have spent the past six years in the 16- strong World Group while Britain have been dragging themselves from the depths of zonal competition.

India, in fact, ended Britain's last flirtation with the World Group in 1992, defeating Tony Pickard's team 4-1 in New Delhi. This followed Britain's 5-0 defeat against France, the holders, in Bayonne in January 1992. The match in New Delhi was played on grass, the sport's only natural surface and one which suits the Indians' traditional attacking style as much as Britain's. Today's tie will be played on outdoor, rubberised-concrete hard courts.

"They have done their homework well," said Paes, underlining the point that India have not played a tie on hard courts for 15 years. "This is a slowish hard court," Paes added, brightening somewhat. "Facing Rusedski on a grass court or on a fast hard court would be much tougher than on a court like this."

Paes, ranked No 88, was an Olympic bronze medallist in Atlanta in 1996, having lost to Andre Agassi in the semi-finals. Paes, who recently added Pete Sampras to a list of big-name conquests, will hope to capitalise on any sign of court-rust by Rusedski.

The big-serving left-hander, whose ranking has slipped to No 15, took a break from matches last week after his three five-set contests at the United States Open ended a brief hard court campaign following two months recovering from the ankle injury which ended his Wimbledon prospects.

"Paes plays well for his country," Rusedski acknowledged. "He's going to come in on every single ball. He'll chip and charge. He's really flashy. He goes for everthing."

Henman, ranked No 11 and fresh from successfully defending his ATP Tour title in Tashkent, said: "If Greg goes out and beats Paes it will be a huge boost. If Greg were to lose, it would put a bit of pressure on me. But I don't expect that to happen. We belong in the World Group with the team we have. We have to be right at the top of our game."

"The team spirit is great," said Lloyd, who made a plea for the 3,700 spectators to make themselves heard. "I would like to see the British crowd get behind the British team more than they do. Sometimes I don't think we let ourselves go."

There should be something worth shouting about on this occasion. We shall then have to see if Britain can get by among the elite with only two world class players.

DAVIS CUP (Nottingham) England v India: Today (llam): Greg Rusedski v Leander Paes, Tim Henman v Mahesh Bhupathi. Tomorrow (1.30pm): Neil Broad and Tim Henman v Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes. Sunday (11am): Henman v Paes, Rusedski v Bhupathi.