This is his second final of the year and the 14th of his career

This is his second final of the year and the 14th of his career but since capturing Basle in October 1998, the British No 1 has lost five finals in succession.While offering his congratulations, backed by the trademark grin, to Henman, Greg Rusedski affirmed he was happy to be in nearby California and at the site, more or less, of one of his greatest triumphs, that 149mph serve which still rates as the fastest ever hit.The only small difference is that Rusedski set that record at the stadium two miles down the road, which has now been abandoned in favour of Charlie Pasarell's latest field of dreams, the stunning new £50m complex for the Indian Wells tournament here, the first of the new Masters Series.It was not merely Rusedski's first-round loss to Pete Sampras that caused him to be happy to wish Scottsdale farewell "It was so cold I could see my breath," he said "And that was after it rained for 62 hours. It was a blessing in disguise to lose early."In the outer confines of Pasarell's new 189-acre site, close by the low walls of pink brick which hold back the sand and sagebrush, Rusedski was hard at practice this weekend, preparing for tomorrow's opening blast at an event where he reached the final two years ago and is confident of doing well again.This despite the fact that the courts at the new arena are slower than at the abandoned stadium, which is indisputably of no assistance to big boomers like Greg. Being a fair-minded fellow, Rusedski considers that what is being done to slow down the game is for its good. "They're making the balls bigger and fluffier to get longer rallies Now there are better points and better tennis. I just hope they don't slow things down any more, but I'm looking forward to a great week."That comment comes despite the fact that Rusedski also admits his mighty serve remains far from restored to full health, unlike the foot which was the cause of his two and a half-month absence Rusedski has also come up with a neat apologetic statistic.

His three defeats this year have all come at the hands of the world No 2. He lost in Rotterdam's quarterfinals and London Arena's semi-finals to Yevgeny Kafelnikov, then ranked second, and in Scottsdale to Sampras, at present No 2 (if you accept, as most players do, the old system rather than the new Champions Race 2000). "So I guess," he grinned, "if I don't play the second seed I'll be all right."In fact, he will start against the American wild card, James Blake, while Henman will play Morocco's Karim Alami.Still soaked in sweat from his hour-long work-out under the supervision of his coach, Sven Groeneveld, Rusedski added: "I still haven't hit my best but I'm getting stronger You have to remember I'm still on my comeback. I'm working on the kinks and when that's done I'll be able to compete again with the number twos, though there was no shame in losing to players of their quality. My game has improved in a lot of areas and I'm definitely moving better."The awesome Rusedski serve is what remains some way short of lethal. This, he explains, is because it was the serving action which caused his foot problem in the first place and, following surgery in December, serving was the last thing he got around to doing again before returning at the Rotterdam event."I barely hit any serves before I came back because that is what puts most pressure on the foot. So I went into that event not having been able to work on my strength.

I was disappointed with my serving against Sampras last Tuesday but it has already improved since I've been practising here. But considering everything I'm pleased with the way I have played so far since my return."The surgery has been a big benefit, I'm pain-free. To be able to go out there now and not have to take pain killers makes me a feel a lot better. And I like the dry heat of Indian Wells, I usually play well in these conditions. And this is a tournament which has three times more points to play for."All of which adds up to a resounding endorsement of Pasarell's pride and joy, notthat it is in need of further praise after the feat of converting scrubland into what Charlie himself insists is the world's finest tennis arena in the space of 16 months. (Are you listening, Wemberley?)Pasarell, aged 56, has not yet had time to stand alone in the new building and savour his achievement.

"But what I'm looking forward to is seeing it full of people cheering and clapping That's when I'll get goose pimples. I want everybody to leave here saying 'Wow, what a great place'." Rusedski, if he does as well as he expects, will be one of them.. Once the most carefree and happy-go-lucky lady to have won Grand Slams and reigned as No 1, Monica Seles claims to be taking steps to get back on that glittering highway. Steps is the appropriate word, since Seles is newly-restored to the circuit after being sidelined for five months with a stress fracture of the right foot. Once the most carefree and happy-go-lucky lady to have won Grand Slams and reigned as No 1, Monica Seles claims to be taking steps to get back on that glittering highway. Steps is the appropriate word, since Seles is newly-restored to the circuit after being sidelined for five months with a stress fracture of the right foot. Admittedly, sitting with your foot up pondering career prospects can be the perfect cue for nostalgia.

Sadly for Seles, those truly carefree days ended with her stabbing in Hamburg in 1993 and, of late, reality has intruded forcefully into her thinking. There are now females out there who hit a harder and meaner ball than Monica, so what better time to try to beef up her serve, to get fitter and to move better? The trouble with Seles is that, even at 26, she still wants to smell the roses, too.After routing Italy's Silvia Farina 6-1 6-2 in her opening match at Indian Wells she waxed more enthusiastic about the weather than her form. "Coming here this morning I thought 'Gosh, what a beautiful day', " she burbled.Little wonder, then, that the new plans to get back on the yellow brick road incline towards the haphazard. For a start, she seems to have two coaches, or possibly three. First there is someone called Bobby Banck, who is working with her here. Then there is Jimmy Arias, like Seles a famous product of the Nick Bollettieri academy of hard knocks in Florida. And finally there is the athletics coach Bobby Kersee, who she hopes will help her with her movement when they finally find time to get together to talk about it.Seles is also in the process of changing her service action and, understandably, seems bewildered by excessive advice, including some from a well-wisher at her press conference here on Friday "It's not going too well," she confessed.