Tennis
British No.1 Greg Rusedski scraped into the semi-finals of the European Com-munity Champion-ship in Belgium - then launched a stinging attack on compatriot Tim Henman.
Rusedski overcame Thomas Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the #650,000 tournament and said he was generally happy with his form.
But he was more keen to express his disappointment that he had been the last to know about Henman's decision not to play in May's World Team Championship.
''Tim talked to the press before I knew. I'm disappointed. This might have been the only chance for Britain to play there. It's also great preparation for the French Open.
''Last year he was asking me if I could play there and even trying to get a wild card (for Britain).''
Britain will not be eligible for this year's team tournament in Dusseldorf because No.2 Henman has declared himself unavailable, preferring to take a week off to prepare for the French Open.
Eight teams are selected for the competition using the combined rankings of each nation's top two representatives. Britain will not be chosen without Henman because No.3 player Andrew Richardson is too far down the world list.
Rusedski showed no sign of his disappointment as he broke Johansson to lead 3-1 from the Swede's forehand error.
Johansson, ranked No.40 in the world, saved a set point with a service winner in the eighth game for 3-5. But Rusedski left little doubt of his desire, winning the opener in 30 minutes with a stinging second serve of 134mph.
Another quarter-final was taken care of without a match as Magnus Larsson pulled out before his contest with holder Marc Rosset with an ankle problem.
Rusedski and Henman will both face tough first-round opponents next week following yesterday's draw for the Guardian Direct Cup.
The former meets German Marc-Kevin Goellner while Henman plays the former Wimbledon cham-pion, Richard Krajicek, of Holland. The tournament begins at Battersea Park on Monday.
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