Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » Sports » Tennis » Reuters > Report
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
Advertisement
  Discuss this Article   |      Email this Article   |      Print this Article

Henman outplays frustrated Murray
Get Sports updates:What's this?
Advertisement
September 27, 2006 21:22 IST

Tim Henman condemned a frustrated Andy Murray to his ninth first-round exit of the year with an impressive 6-4, 6-2 victory in an all-British clash at the Thailand Open on Wednesday.

It took the former British number one 55 minutes to win the first set after Murray crawled back into the match from 5-2 down.

The Scottish teenager had beaten Henman on two previous occasions, at Masters tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati, but a heavy competition schedule looked to have taken its toll.

Murray, who lost to Roger Federer [Images] in the final here last year, staved off four set points before giving way in the first.

Henman then dominated the second set, varying his game and keeping his composure as Murray grew more frustrated by his own performance.

"My game got better and better as the match went on," Henman told a news conference.

"I started to dominate and get ahead. Even on the set points that I lost I still played good shots."

The 32-year-old said he knew how to approach the game with Murray after playing him twice in the last seven weeks.

"He's the kind of player that the more you attack him, the better he plays," he said.

"I played patiently, my serve was good, and I had to vary my game and keep changing the pace.

"The quality of players he has beaten is what I can take confidence from."

Murray thought his busy match schedule and an abrupt shift from clay to hardcourt had impacted on his performance.

"Maybe it was one match too many," he told reporters. "I made a 20-hour flight then tried to play my best tennis. Normally when I lose I'm disappointed, but this time I'm not.

"It wasn't the best decision to play here, but it's something I'll learn from," he added.

Former world number one Marat Safin [Images] of Russia [Images] got past a tough first round test against Kevin Kim of the United States, going through 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Safin forced his way back into the match after losing the first set and said he was pleased with his form after a lengthy spell sidelined with a knee injury.

"I'm very happy with the way I'm moving and the way my knee is holding up," he told reporters.  

"I'm facing some difficult matches in the next few rounds, even more difficult than today. It's not going to be easy here."

Two Thai players went through to the second round for the first time in the competition's four-year history after Paradorn Srichaphan [Images] defeated Feliciano Lopez 6-1, 6-4 and Danai Udomchoke beat Switzerland's [Images] George Bastl 6-3, 6-0.



© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
 Email this Article      Print this Article


© 2008 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback