Ian Carter watches Britain's top two battle it out in Hanover (Radio 5 Live)

Rusedski's hopes of a place in the last four were dashed by Spain's Alex Corretja who needed to lose to countryman Albert Costa to secure the Canadian-born Briton a place in the semis.

Corretja ruthlessly despatched Costa in straight sets, 6-2 6-4, to snatch the last four confrontation with world number one Pete Sampras.

Earlier on Friday, Canadian-born Rusedski blitzed Henman off the court with a 6-2 6-4 victory in their group game to keep his tournament hopes alive.

British number one, Henman, who had already qualified for the semi-finals, seemed to lack the powers of concentration and determination needed to take on the man immediately below him in the national rankings.

A jaded Henman feels the heat in Hanover

But despite Rusedski's ultimate failure to make the last four, the win will assure him of finishing the season in the world's top 10, alongside Henman, for the second year in succession.

"I'm quite pleased with the result," a beaming Rusedski said.

"But more importantly I'm pleased I'm back in the world top 10 and will now move up to number eight."

Henman admitted he had been in the curious position of playing his rival in a high-profile game which actually meant nothing in terms of his progress in the tournament.

"It was a strange situation," he said. "I thought there would be some good competition between us, but I felt a little bit flat out there."

Henman tripped up on serve

Henman, who has looked in impressive form this week with successive victories over Marcelo Rios and Alex Corretja, struggled with his serve throughout.

Two double-faults in a row in the third game handed Rusedski his first break and from there he took control.

Another double fault in Henman's next service game gave Rusedski his second break.

After saving a break point on his own serve with a superb back hand volley the British number two cruised to take the first set 6-2 in just 25 minutes.

The second set followed in similar fashion, as Henman was broken in the third and fifth games - again as a result of double faulting - to give Rusedski a 5-1 lead.

But Henman, who had won just eight points on Rusedski's serve up until that point, suddenly sprang into life just as it looked as the match was over.

He saved a match-point with a superb running fore-hand and broke back, before holding his own serve to give himself a chance at 5-4 behind.