Another setback for Rusedski

Greg Rusedski, the controversial new British No 1, flopped for the second time in eight days and admitted: "It was horrendous." The lanky Canadian import has claimed British citizenship, becoming the country's top-ranked player at 58 in the world.

"If I don't do better at Wimbledon next week maybe I'll be watching the Davis Cup from the sidelines instead of playing for Britain,'' Rusedski said.

Rusedski is refusing to panic even after his much-vaunted booming serve let him down badly against Argentina's Javier Frana who scored a 6-3,7- 6 first-round win at the Nottingham Open.

With Frana ranked 10 places above him at 48 it was not quite as embarrassing as his "home debut" against Essex's Mark Petchey at Queen's Club last week, but he knew he had let his new fans down again.

"It's disappointing for the crowd," he said. "They were right behind me today and I'm disappointed for them. But I've got to be positive and take it in my stride.''

Another British player, Danny Sapsford, took the first set from the Frenchman Guillaume Raoux but lost 5-7, 7-6, 6-3. Jeremy Bates, whose No 1 spot was taken by Rusedski, plays the Russian fourth seed, Alexander Volkov, today.