Henman triumphs in Rome
Henman triumphs in Rome
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Wednesday, 10, May 2006 10:31
Tim Henman took a big step towards reclaiming a place in the top 50 with a 7-6 (10-8) 6-1 win over Thomas Johansson in Rome.
The British number three joined Greg Rusedski in the Rome Masters third round with an excellent victory over the 15th-seeded Swede.
Henman's ranking has fallen to 70, through a combination of injury and poor results, and his claims that his prime form is returning was put to the test.
But Henman came through a deserved winner and will face Spanish Rafael Nadal, the best in the world on the clay surface, in the last 16.
Henman, a French Open semi-finalist two years ago, played particularly well, overcoming the disappointment of losing his serve in the sixth game of the opening set, when Johansson broke serve to 15.
Rather than let the set drift away, the 31-year-old hit back and broke to bring the set back on serve at 4-4.
Henman had three break points on the Johansson serve in the next game, but his opponent - also 31 - held on.
The tie-break stayed on serve for eight consecutive points until Henman got the first mini-break to lead 5-4.
Both players then began to lose a grip on their own service until Henman, on a fourth set point, closed out the set.
Henman briefly seized control of the match with an early break in the second to lead 2-0, but Johansson hit back immediately.
It was, however, the last game Johansson won as Henman grew in confidence.
Nadal will offer a more formidable challenge - having beat Italian Filippo Volandri 6-1 6-2 tonight - but Henman has at least matched his own record in Rome last year, where he bowed out in the last 16 to Dominik Hrbaty.