Henman confident after first-round win
Posted: Monday January 18, 1999 12:25 AM
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Henman: "I have a lot more understanding of my game than 12 months ago. I feel like I'm a lot more in control of my performance."
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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Shaking off bad memories of last year's first-round defeat, Britain's Tim Henman declared himself confident and in control after making short work of Morocco's Karim Alami in their opening match at the Australian Open Monday.
The world No.7 and 1998 Wimbledon semifinalist took just 79 minutes to defeat Alami 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 in an aggressive display at Melbourne Park.
"I was really pleased with the way I played today, from the word go I felt very confident and I think my game got better and better as it went on," Henman said.
He denied being nervous coming into the tournament, but said he had wanted to make a strong start.
"I wanted to try and stamp my authority early on, to take my first chance," Henman said.
He did it in the eighth game of the first set, when Alami succumbed to pressure and served a double fault to give Henman his first break of service.
"To get a break up 5-3 then serve it out to love was definitely a good start," Henman said. "It set the tone for the match."
The pressure stayed on throughout the match, Henman serving six aces to Alami's four, keeping double faults to two while Alami served nine, and making just 14 unforced errors to Alami's 33.
Alami received no sympathy from a newly aggressive Henman.
"I wasn't letting up at all ... I think my first serve percentage was pretty good and I volleyed very well at the net, that's a good sign," he said.
He said he couldn't have asked for a better start, particularly after last year's first round loss to French qualifier Jerome Golmard, falling 11-9 in the fifth.
"Twelve months ago was the beginning of a real struggle for a few months," Henman said. "I wasn't playing to my strength and I was too cautious, I wasn't aggressive enough."
One year, 59 victories and a Wimbledon semifinals appearance later, it's a more confident Henman at an Australian Open with a wide-open field missing world No. 1 Pete Sampras.
"It's a different feeling sitting in this chair 12 months later," Henman said. "I have a lot more understanding of my game than 12 months ago. I feel like I'm a lot more in control of my performance."
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