Tim Henman launched his French Open challenge with a comfortable four set victory over German qualifier Tomas Behrend at Roland Garros today. Henman progressed in two hours and 39 minutes in 90 degree sunshine at the Paris venue with a 6-1 6-4 5-7 6-0 win to book his place in the second round with a performance that lacked conviction, but was assured enough to suggest that his recent horror shows on clay could be over.
The British number one had suffered two disappointing defeats on the dirt recently, in Rome and then Hamburg, where he lost to a German qualifier in the shape of Lars Burgsmuller. This was Henman's first Grand Slam match since his split with former coach David Felgate last month, but he quickly got into his stride to take the first two sets and never looked back.
Afterwards, Henman admitted: "It's probably not the best I've played but I was able to get the job done." Henman now plays Dutchman Sjeng Schalken, who beat Paul Goldstein 6-1 6-3 6-2.
Meanwhile, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, the seventh seed and 1996 champion, wasted little time in dismissing Italian Federico Luzzi 6-3 6-3 6-4, while
sixth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt of Australia beat Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in four sets. The first men's seeded casualty was number 15 Jan-Michael Gambill of the US, who lost in four sets to Dane Kristian Pless, and he was joined by 12th-seeded Frenchman Arnaud Clement who lost in five sets to Argentina's Mariano Puerta.
But there were wins for 14th seed Thomas Enqvist of Sweden and local favourite Cedric Pioline who beat Andrei Pavel of Romania in four sets. In the day's other action, there were straight sets wins for American Michael Chang over Germany's Alexander Popp and compatriot Andy Roddick who overcame Australian Scott Draper.
Filed by Shane Murray
