Fuente: © Renault F1 Team (English)
http://www.renaultf1.com/

ROLAND GARROS: Henman outlasts Carlsen

/noticias.info/ By Andrew Bogusch
Sunday, May 28, 2006

Tim Henman survived the first round in Paris for the eighth consecutive year, winning a battle of thirty-somethings on Sunday.

Henman, 31, needed almost three hours to dispatch 33-year-old Kenneth Carlsen, 6-3 6-4 4-6 6-4, on Court No1. The Brit prevailed by keeping Carlsen on the run constantly with deep ground strokes and his usual array of volleys. He forced 42 errors from the Dane and won 32 of 41 points at the net.

Racing to a 4-1 lead in the opening set, Henman appeared in command. The Brit sealed the second set in 39 minutes before Carlsen eventually found his game late in the third, taking it with a late break of serve.

Henman took control of the fourth set by breaking Carlsen in the third game thanks to some well-constructed points and a little luck. After forehand and volley winners, Henman hit a shot that Carlsen thought would be long - he pumped his fist in celebration, only to watch the ball land on the back edge of the baseline.

The Brit hung tough to survive back-to-back shaky service games - including a break point at 4-3 - to preserve the victory, his fourth in his last five clay court matches.

Henman now awaits the winner of (31) Dmitry Tursunov and Jiri Novak. The Brit is 0-2 all-time against Tursunov, losing to the young Russian at the Australian Open this year and at Wimbledon a year ago (8-6 in the fifth set). Novak has beaten him three straight times, but they have not met since 2004.


Court 1 - Men's Singles - 1st Round 1 2 3 4 5
Kenneth Carlsen DEN 3 4 6 4
vs.
Tim Henman GBR 6 6 4 6 notas_de_prensa_archivo