Doubles too much trouble?

Rusedski and Henman are not close off the court

BBC tennis correspondent Iain Carter wishes Britain's top two players would team up more often.

New year but same old story and it's one of personal preference prevailing instead of the team ethic.

As sure as 2002 follows 2001, every Davis Cup tie played by Britain is followed by questions of whether Britain's top two players, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski, might extend their doubles partnership beyond occasions of national service.

Their responses are always the same - yes, good idea, but sorry it's difficult to marry our separate schedules, so the chances are very slim.

Davis Cup captain Roger Taylor wants them to play together whenever possible.

And he and all British tennis fans are entitled to feel deeply disappointed with the way the new tennis calendar has begun.

Henman and Rusedski are at the same tournament.

Recognised

Both need of plenty of court time because at the Australian Hardcourt Championships in Adelaide they are playing their first competitive tennis for two months.

The Australian Open is just a fortnight away and the need for as many matches as possible has been recognised by Henman, who has entered the doubles.

Not a familiar site on the ATP Tour

The problem from Britain's point of view is that he's partnering the home hero Mark Philippoussis.

Why not team up with the British number two, Rusedski?

After all, when they return from Australia their next appointment will be the World Group encounter with Sweden in February, and the doubles may well determine who wins the tie.

Come that match in Birmingham, both players will be full of how much winning for Britain means to them.

Right now it doesn't matter a jot because if it did this golden opportunity would not have been squandered.

No doubt both will offer explanations but I'm struggling to imagine one that can be considered satisfactory to British fans.

The fact is neither seeks out the other's company during the regular tour, which I suppose makes their sterling efforts in harness during Davis Cup matches all the more impressive.

But both say World Group victories are major omissions from their CVs.

What has not happened in Adelaide this week hardly helps in rectifying that situation.