Tennis: Rusedski roars into history

US Open: Birthday boy braves the pain to become first Briton to reach a grand slam final for 20 years

Britain will today have a representative in the men's singles final at the United States championships for the first time since the great Fred Perry defeated Donald Budge in 1936. Greg Rusedski might have been born in Montreal, but if he beats Patrick Rafter this evening, we will happily drink Canada dry.

Rusedski awoke to his 24th birthday here in New York yesterday suffering from a throat infection and somewhat subdued after watching television coverage of the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. He subsequently raised his spirits and his game long enough to recover from a two sets to one deficit in the semi-final, overhauling Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman 6-1 3-6 3-6 6-3 7-5.

A visit to a doctor who numbers Luciano Pavarotti among her clients reassured Rusedski that he could continue his glorious campaign. "I'm fine," he said last night. "There's no concern about tomorrow."

After converting match point with a confident forehand down the line, Rusedski raised his arms to the crowd of 22,000 in the Arthur Ashe Stadium before walking over to his chair, flopping down and covering his face with a towel as if attempting to allow his achievement to sink in.

"I didn't really think I had a chance when I was down 2-1," he said afterwards. "And I was so excited at match point."

Then, with reference to the sad events back in Britain, he added: "I hope I have provided people back home with a bit of a lift. But there I realise that tennis is insignificant compared with a tragedy."

Yesterday's semi-final was the first between unseated players since 1963, and the first featuring a British male since Mike Sangster, of Torquay, lost to Rod Laver in 1961. The last Britain to appear in a Grand Slam final was John Lloyd, who lost to Vitas Gerulaitis at the 1977 Australian Open.

Yesterday's duel began in comparatively cool conditions and without the humidity which can drain competitors so quickly. Rusedski, determined to make as brisk a start as possible to allay fears that his viral infection would debilitate his prospects, shot through the opening set in just 17 minutes. He allowed Bjorkman only four points against his serve, and a mere 12 in all. Having successfully negotiated his five previous matches without dropping a set, Rusedski appeared primed for an emphatic victory.

Bjorkman's transformation in the second set was impressive. Rather than being cowed by the early assault, he held his nerve and began to bring his splendid backhand into play, both in returning Rusedski's serves and in flashing spectacular winners across the court.

Returning Rusedski's serve is never an easy proposition, and once again in this match he blasted several deliveries timed at 140mph and above. Two of his serves equalled his personal best, 142mph.

Only 42 minutes had elapsed in the match when the Swede levelled at one set all, breaking Ruzedski's serve once, in the sixth game. Although Rusedski both saved and created break points during the third set, Bjorkman eased away from him after taking a 3-2 lead.

When Rusedski failed to break back to 4-4, having had a couple of opportunities, it appeared that Bjorkman was about to take control. He did, breaking to love in the ninth game, and taking particular pleasure from winning the third point of the game after returning a 142mph serve.

The fourth set fluctuated one way and then the other, Rusedski breaking for 2-1, losing his own serve immediately and then recovering the initiative when his opponent misdirected a forehand beyond the base-line.

Rusedski was fortunate with a netcord when saving the third of three break points in the eighth game. He held a hand up in apology to Bjorkman then asked the ball boy to give him the same ball to serve, which he did successfully.

Not only did Rusedski then level the match, but he did so by breaking in the ninth game to start the final set serving in the first game, and leaving the Swede in a position of trying to catch up.

Both players managed to hold serve as the final phase of the drama moved towards a conclusion. The likely outcome seemed to be a tie-break. It did not come to that, partly because Bjorkman appeared to be the shakier of the two when the points became tighter. Rusedski forced the issue by unleashing a forehand crosscourt winner when his opponent had a game point. Bjorkman then netted a backhand after a brief rally and left himself vulnerable after netting a first serve. Rusedski pounced gleefully. Whisper it, but if he wins again today he will climb from No 20 to No 5 in the world and give British tennis a new credibility.

Rafter earned his place with a straight-sets demolition of Michael Chang 6-3 6-3 6-4 during which his serve and volley game looked in excellent order.