Rusedski slams Stella organisers over his Monday start

LONDON, June 12 (Reuters) - British number one Greg Rusedski accused organisers of the Stella Artois Championships of not looking after the interests local players after he was forced to retire from his first round match today.

''Last week I was playing... and just did the splits and hurt my hip. So coming into the event, I asked for a Tuesday start,'' Rusedski fumed after he withdrew while trailing Frenchman Antony Dupuis 5-7 6-3 3-2.

''We warned the tournament director that if they put me today there was a chance I might not be fully fit to go the whole distance. ''But he obviously ignored that, knowing that an extra 24 hours would have made a massive difference for me.

''So I'm absolutely disappointed that they wouldn't even listen to a word I said.

''I thought for one set I played a really good first set.

Then after that, my movement started going a bit. Then that was it really.

''You'd think they'd want to help their British players do well here instead of hinder them.'' The world number 37 has struggled to make an impact all season and has progressed to the third round only once in nine tournaments.

Despite the setback, Rusedski did not think the injury would harm his chances at Wimbledon, which begins on June 26.

''I think I'll be fine for Wimbledon,'' he said.

''I'm going to have an MRI and an ultrasound... then I have to figure out whether I'll be good enough for Nottingham (next week) or not. I'm just going to have to take it day by day and see how it goes.'' REUTERS AD VC0050