Rusedski is woefully short of match practice |
Greg Rusedski's first competitive match for nine months ended in defeat as he was beaten in straight sets by Nikolay Davydenko in the first round of the French Open. It was his first serious outing since losing to Pete Sampras in last year's US Open.
Since then Rusedski has had two operations and he was understandably rusty as he lost 6-3 7-5 6-2.
If those problems were not enough, Rusedski even had to contend with a bout of flu.
"I have been a little unlucky with my health," Rusedski said. "It has been frustrating and very difficult.
 Today is a big step forward - at least I can say I have kicked it off in 2003 |
"But I am just glad to be here even though I got this flu and a fever yesterday.
"It doesn't make life any easier, but that's the way tennis goes sometimes.
"Last night I was feeling terrible, but I was just glad to be back on court, back at a Grand Slam.
"I feel like someone's taken my job for the past nine months so it's time to get it back.
"Today is a big step forward. At least I can say I have kicked it off in 2003."
Under the circumstances, Rusedski will be happy with his performance, given that Davydenko has had an excellent season, and the Briton has never been particularly happy on clay.
The lay-off showed in the first set as he lost his service twice, in the sixth and eighth games, to let 21-year-old Davydenko take the advantage.
Rusedski was more competitive in the second but he was eventually broken in the 11th game to hand Davydenko the chance to serve for the second set.
And the Russian ran away with the third as he brought Rusedski's return to an abrupt, but not unexpected, end.
MMIX
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