Henman too strong for Rusedski - 美網 Tennis

Last Updated: Wednesday, 30 August 2006, 22:24 GMT 23:24 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/5277196.stm

Henman too strong for Rusedski

Tim Henman extended his good run against long-time rival and fellow
Briton Greg Rusedski with victory in their first-round match at the US Open.

Henman came through 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-3 in one hour 55 minutes for his
seventh straight win over Rusedski, setting up a clash with top seed Roger F
ederer.

Rusedski went 3-0 up but Henman soon levelled before edging the tie-break.

Henman broke twice in the second set and then again at 3-3 in the third
to wrap up a comfortable victory.


Interview: Tim Henman
http://0rz.net/e81PO

Interview: Greg Rusedski
http://0rz.net/f31Pe

"Once I got a set up I felt my game got better and better," said Henman, who
admitted that Rusedski's hip injury had been a factor.

I still wanted to play at least one more Open and that's what I did
Greg Rusedski

More reaction

"As he loses a little bit of strength in his hip, he wasn't coming forward so
much. I can exploit that a little bit more.

"Yeah, I think as the match wore on, he was obviously getting a bit sore."

Henman now faces the unenviable task of ending Federer's quest for a
third straight US Open title.

The pair also met at the same stage at Wimbledon with world number one
Federer breezing through in straight sets, dropping just six games.

"It's as tough a test as you can have," said Henman. "But it depends which
way you look at it - a tough draw or a great opportunity."

Defeat for 1997 US Open runner-up Rusedski in what could be his last Grand
Slam event means he has lost in the first round on each of his last four
visits to Flushing Meadows.

Rusedski said afterwards that he would head back home to consider his
future, with retirement surely looming.

"I still wanted to play at least one more Open and that's what I did," he
said.


Britain's Josh Goodall could not build on the three wins that saw him
come through qualifying as he lost to Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the
first round.

The British number eight fell two sets behind before staging a fightback
but eventually succumbed 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-3.



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