Tennis: Ace of quick serves back at Stanley St

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Big-serving Briton Greg Rusedski is returning to Auckland to join Russian Marat Safin as another big-name player at next year's Open.

The popular left-hander, with the fastest serve in the game, has savoured victories over many of the world's top players this year.

En route to winning in San Jose in February - his 10th career singles title - he beat Andre Agassi in straight sets in the final after dispatching Lleyton Hewitt in the quarters. The British No 2 was a semifinalist at three other tournaments, including Auckland, and reached the last eight on another three occasions.

Rusedski, who will be one of the top seeds for the January 7-12 Heineken Open at Stanley St, used this year's event as a lead in to the year's first Grand Slam, in Australia.

He did not have it easy in Auckland. In a weather-interrupted tournament, he beat Kiwi No 1 Mark Nielsen in the first round, then played three tough matches in just 23 hours.

After beating Byron Black and Stefan Koubek, Rusedski lost to Spanish veteran Francisco Clavet in the semis.

Tournament director Graham Pearce welcomed Rusedski's entry.

"He was a crowd favourite at this year's tournament and is bound to have a great following again," Pearce said.

Rusedski reached a career-high ranking of four in 1997 after reaching the final of the US Open. He was a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon the same year and has banked more than $16 million in prizemoney.

He seems set to finish inside the world's top 30 on the season-end rankings.