Want to Win a Grand Slam Final? Then Don't Play Me!

Guesting with Greg Rusedski today on Radio 5 Live reminded me of the time when I faced the famed Rusedski serve shortly after the Canadian-turned British tennis star first arrived on the scene armed with the fastest serve in tennis. Absurdly, I stuck my racquet out and watched as Greg's serve rebounded straight back and past him for a clean winner. We both looked at each other dumbfounded. After that Greg made sure I barely touched the ball, slicing and spinning his serves at ridiculous speeds and angles. Anyway, a few months later he made it to the US Open final, only to lose to Pat Rafter. After yesterday watching Andy Murray lose the Australian Open in straight sets to Roger Federer and then seeing Greg reminded me of how exactly the same thing happened to Murray, too, when I faced his serve at London's Queens Club. Again, his first serve hit my racquet and rebounded back over the net for a winner. Again, he murdered me in response. Maybe, in the cause of British tennis, I should have had a hit with Federer when he first broke through? It's a bit late now, though, isn't it?