PARIS, Oct 27: Britain’s Tim Henman gave himself a chance of avenging one of his most crushing and demoralising defeats after moving into the second round of the Paris Masters on Monday.
His 6-3, 6-4 first round win over Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko means he will now face French seventh seed Sebastien Grosjean, the man who ended his Wimbledon dream at the quarterfinal stage this year.
Now he has the opportunity of returning the favour in the Frenchman’s backyard and on the same court where Grosjean won this tournament in 2001.
Henman, playing in his last event of the season after an injury-ravaged campaign, had too much class for Davydenko, a man he had easily beaten in Washington this year.
Results (first round): Karol Beck (Slovakia) beat Robby Ginepri (U.S.) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4; Gregory Carraz (France) beat Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) 2-6 6-2 7-6 (7-3); Tim Henman (Britain) beat Nikolay Davydenko (Russia) 6-3 6-4; Albert Costa (Spain) beat Mariano Zabaleta 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-5; Hicham Arazi (Morocco) beat Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) 7-5 6-4—Reuters