Greg Rusedski has rejected a suggestion from British rival Tim Henman that he gets a full time fitness trainer.

Rusedski, who kicks-off his assault on the Samsung Open against Paul Goldstein at the Brighton Centre tonight, has suffered an erratic year through injury and has slumped to 63rd in the ATP Champions Race.

Henman said: "Greg's had a rough time with injuries, one minute he's healthy and the next he is not.

"I've worked really hard on my fitness and that's not only helped me a great deal in my movement on the court but with my injury prevention.

"If I was going to give Greg advice then I'd say he should travel with a fitness trainer.

"When he's healthy, no question, he's one of the best players, but when he's not healthy he has struggled."

But British No.2 Rusedski sees no need for a travelling trainer.

He said: "People have different approaches. I look at a lot of the guys like Sampras and Agassi who don't have full time fitness trainers with them. They do their work in the base periods they have off.

"There's not much one can do besides maybe stretch you out and go through your regular programme.

"For myself that is not necessarily the best thing. Maybe a physio who can take care of my body is more important. A physical trainer full time? No. A few weeks here and there is fine, but not every week."

Rusedski has declared that he is now "fully fit and looking forward to Brighton."

He feels it is a step towards a return to the world top ten.

He said: "I've had a tough year. I played particularly poorly in the grass court season and I missed the whole of the hard court season. If I can stay healthy, get fit and strong I can get back to where I want to be.

"I spent three years in the top ten before I got injured at the end of last year. My first step is to get into the top 50, then the top 20 and once you reach that goal its top ten.

"I will play a smarter schedule, hardly playing on clay, and I hope I will come good again."

But Rusedski revealed this year had been tough.

He said: "I had foot surgery last December 22and since I came back my body has not allowed me to do what I'd like to do until recently.

"You really have to continue to fight through in tennis because if you take six months off you disappear off the planet.

"The only way is to find a way of grinding through and I feel thats what I've done this year."

Easier said than done.

He said "Its frustrating when you are not able to play at a certain level but you keep yourself motivated and in there, making sure you have good people around you in support."

Rusedski will be cheered on at Brighton by family and friends.

He said: "We have quite a few who live in and around Brighton. Lucy (his wife) and I know it reasonably well. We've been down to the Rock beaches, the pier and the shops. We used to go down when I first came over a few times."

Rusedski, 27, and born in Montreal, reached world number 4 in 1997 when he also was a US Open finalist.

He clearly believes that he can get back with the help of Pat Cash with the former Wimbledon champion in line to coach Rusedski. Grinning Greg has admitted that it has been hard to smile on court for much of the year, but maybe things are starting to cheer up for him.

See the Argus every day this week for top interviews from the Brighton Centre