Greg Rusedski

Some players didn't like it, to be honest.

Jeremy Bates at the time was a good player, top 50 in the world.

But there wasn't that sort of player that everybody felt, OK, maybe we have a Brit who could win Wimbledon.

Henman and myself show up.

He gets into the top 20 first after 96 getting the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.

I go out early.

I have to use the offseason to work hard.

And then going into the US Open that year, I made the quarters of Wimbledon.

My preparation going into the slam was absolutely picture perfect.

I lost the week before the tournament started to Rafter in three tight sets in New Haven.

And then the first week of the US Open, everything was new.

So you had Arthur Ashe Stadium, the first time it was built and played on.

Billie Jean King Tennis Center.

Ironically, going into that US Open, I was 0-6.

I'd never actually won a match in New York in my career prior to that.

But the first week was magical.

I didn't drop a set.

I beat David Wheaton, who'd been a semifinalist of Wimbledon, a former top 10 player in the opening round.

Flew through the first week, won all my matches in straight sets.

And then everybody remembers that August 31st evening at 11 p.m.