Tim Henman found himself outclassed by Pat Rafter in the fourth round of the Australian Open in Melbourne today. Rafter, Australia's last hope following the defeat of Andrew Ilie to Andre Agassi, powered his way into the quarter-finals with a 6-2 6-3 6-3 victory over Britain's number eight seed.
Henman missed chances to break early in the opening set, but once 12th seed Rafter had got through to lead 4-2 he totally dominated the match. Breaking again to take the first set, he never gave Henman an opening in the second and two bad forehands by the 26-year-old from Oxford lost him his serve in the eighth game.
Rafter sensed a quick kill now and after passing Henman for another break in the seventh game of the third he did it once more two games later to clinch victory. Henman netted a forehand to be match point down and then double-faulted to go out.
Rafter now plays 14th seed Dominik Hrbaty, the Slovakian knocking out second seed Marat Safin in straight sets.
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
