Rusedski hopes the rest will lead to history

You might have thought that Greg Rusedski was distraught at having to sit out the last few weeks because of a neck injury but Britain's No 2 has been having the time of his life. "It's been the best possible period to be off," he said ahead of his exhibition match with Jan-Michael Gambill at Surbiton Tennis Club yesterday. "I've been able to see Arsenal win the double and England play in the World Cup. It's been great."

For Rusedski, who is a huge football fan, watching the beautiful game has not been the only benefit of the enforced rest. The neck injury, which the left-hander picked up while practising in Hamburg early in May, needed time to heal if he was to be fit for the all-important grass season. "In many ways, this pause has allowed me to make sure that I am healthy to play on the grass," he said. "It's so important because Wimbledon is my most important tournament and my best chance of winning a Slam. Had this been the middle of the grass season, I might have rushed back, but I didn't need to hurry. I wasn't going to ruin my grass preparation or jeopardise my participation at Wimbledon for the sake of a few matches on clay."

Having entered several Wimbledons only half fit, he is more determined than ever to be at his best this year. "That's true, although I've been unfortunate as well in the past," said Rusedski, who will play at the Stella Artois Championship at Queen's in London this week before resting in the immediate run-up to Wimbledon. At yesterday's exhibition match here, Rusedski lost to Gambill in a tie-break decider after they had won a set each.

"That's why this break has done me so much good. It's been an opportunity to reflect on my career a bit and focus on my aims for the next few years. I've been playing tennis for 22 or 23 years, so I needed to stop. I feel that I am going to have a good Wimbledon because this is the most time I've ever been able to dedicate to grass."

Rusedski has spent more than 10 hours in the past week practising at Wimbledon and Queen's, more than any other player. This, he believes, will stand him in better stead than any number of claycourt matches ever could.

"Last year's Wimbledon winner [Goran Ivanisevic] hadn't even hit a ball on the dirt," he said. "And this year, Pete Sampras has not won a single match on clay but you can be sure he'll be right mentally when Wimbledon comes around. That's the key: your state of mind. If you're confident, then you'll do well. I know that I'm one of 10 guys who can win Wimbledon, so now I've just got to believe in myself. I've just got to use my past experiences to do the business."

That will be easier said than done, although both Rusedski and Tim Henman, Britain's No 1, might benefit from the footballers taking the limelight away this summer. "I think that the whole nation will be cheering the [football] team," he said. "Providing they continue in the tournament, people will be concentrating on that more than tennis. But I reckon they'll quickly turn to us once the football is over."

No matter how far England progress in Japan and South Korea, Rusedski believes he is ready to win his first Grand Slam. "I think I can deal with the pressure better now," he said. "But the mental side isn't everything. There is no way you can fluke a Slam. If you're going to win, you have to be completely on your game for seven matches. I haven't been able to do that yet, but there's no reason why I can't emulate what Goran did last summer."

Should Rusedski achieve his aim, then who knows, tennis may even knock football off the back pages for a day.