Tennis: Rusedski moves up world rankings

THE BRITISH NO 2 Greg Rusedski has moved up one place from nine to eight in the latest ATP world rankings. Rusedski has made progress because the Slovakian Karol Kucera has dropped points and gone down from eight to 11.

The British No 1, Tim Henman, also lost points last week because he did not play in the Sydney tournament, in which he was beaten in the final by Kucera 12 months ago. But Henman stays at seven in the world rankings just 40 points above Rusedski.

An ATP spokesman said that the players' council yesterday approved a resolution calling for the current 12-month suspension for any player found guilty of using a Class One drug to be doubled.

After the three-hour annual players' meeting, which Korda attended without addressing his fellow players, the players' representative, Todd Martin, rejected any talk of a boycott as a media "concoction".

Boris Becker has been given a wild card to play in the Guardian Direct Cup at Battersea Park, London, next month.

The 31-year-old former Wimbledon champion will join Henman and Rusedski in the ATP tournament.

Organisers of the tournament, being staged from February 22 to 28, have also offered the 40-year-old John McEnroe a wild card.