Tim Henman, having found his shining light considerably dimmed by the glare of Greg Rusedski's recent achievements, notably in the US Open, responded in the most positive way possible yesterday when he won the President's Cup in Tashkent, beating Marc Rosset of Switzerland 7-6, 6-4.

News from Uzbekistan has surely never come more quickly. Just a few minutes after Felix Mantilla had defeated Carlos Moya 6-2, 6-2 in the all-Spanish final of the Bournemouth Open, the Tashkent telephones were trilling and the message relayed.

This was Henman's fourth ATP final of the year and his second victory, both on hard courts, the first being in January at Sydney when he defeated Moya. He and Rosset had met in the appallingly named European Community championship in Antwerp in February, with the Swiss winning in straight sets.

At the time Henman was beginning to struggle with a painful right elbow which eventually needed surgery in March. Since then his form, despite reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, has been erratic, and this victory should encourage him immensely.

Henman will remain the world's number 20, but over the next few weeks will be looking to close the gap on Rusedski, who will be equally keen to extend it, and drive a deeper wedge into the world's top 10 which he officially reached this morning in 10th place.

Henman and Rosset exchanged breaks of service early on yesterday, but Henman dominated the tiebreak 7-2. It may be seen as justifying his decision not to play in his home tournament at Bournemouth.

"It was a very controlled performance," said his coach David Felgate.

Stubbornness can be both a negative and positive attribute. Brian Teacher, Rusedski's American coach, has had cause from time to time to rue the rigid side of his man's nature, but both have also utilised it to great effect.

Teacher, now back home in California, would have been particularly proud of Rusedski at Bournemouth last week. Many players, having reached a Grand Slam final for the first time, might have faded quietly away in the first round of their next tournament, particularly when it was on their least favourite surface.

But Rusedski resolutely refused to let his aching body get the better of him, reaching Saturday's semi-final which he lost 6-2,6-2 to Moya.

"The tank was finally empty," he admitted.

Now, at last, he is able to rest, at least until next week when he catches a plane for Munich and the dollar-dripping Grand Slam Cup. He will receive $100,000 just for stepping through the doors of the Olympic Halle. Henman, who reached the semi-finals of the 16man straight knockout event last year, doubled his annual earnings in the space of five days.

Rusedski, whose sponsorship deals are still nowhere near as lucrative as Henman's, will hope to have similar success, but is keener on reaching the ATP championships in November, which Henman also has an eye on, according to Felgate.

This tournament, played in Hannover, is only open to the world's top eight players, and how dearly Rusedski would love to be one of those.

Moya, the runner-up to Pete Sampras in this year's Australian Open, also hopes to be there, with his game better suited to Europe's indoor carpets than most of the other Spaniards.

Yesterday's Bournemouth title was Mantilla's fifth of the year, all on clay. Moya dropped his opening serve and then, having failed to break back after a 10-minute game, appeared never to believe he could win.

Guardian Service