[韓曼] Battling Henman beaten in Madrid
Last Updated: Wednesday, 19 October 2005, 13:20 GMT 14:20 UK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/4355528.stm
Battling Henman beaten in Madrid
Tim Henman went out of the Madrid Masters to Radek Stepanek in three
sets despite finding something close to his best form.
The Czech won 6-4 1-6 6-3 after seeing off a fightback from Henman,
who looked in pain late on but said afterwards that his suspect back was fine.
It was the second time in six days that Stepanek had beaten Henman,
following his victory in Vienna last week.
Stepanek faces Argentina's Jose Acasuso in the last 16.
"It is a fair reflection because he has played a lot of games and got
wins under his belt," said Henman after the defeat.
"The third set is a reflection of that, he was able to win and I wasn't.
"I think I am a better player than he is: I don't want that to sound
flippant, but in the context of where I am at, I played some good tennis
but came second and I am not going to dwell on it."
In the context of this year, it's not the most important result of my
career
Tim Henman
Henman looked to be heading for a quick defeat after dropping the first
set but he held on from 15-40 in the first game of the second and raced
through the set to level.
After struggling with a back injury for much of the year, Henman finally
found some snap on his serve and the rest of his game clicked in to place.
The improvement was so sudden that, with the score at 5-0 in the second
set, it was Stepanek who looked a beaten man as he received treatment on his
back.
But the turnaround was only temporary and the Briton struggled to
impose himself on the deciding set, constantly having to battle to hold
serve.
I knew I was having too much faith in Henman to expect two wins in a row.
Stepanek looked the likelier to break and so it proved when he moved 0-40
up in game eight, before Henman obliged with a wayward forehand on the second
break point.
Henman appeared to wince in pain at one stage during the final game but he
insisted afterwards that his recovery is on track.
"In terms of the way that I'm moving, the way that I'm feeling on the
court, there is certainly a lot to be positive about," said the world number
26.
"In the context of this year, it's not the most important result of my
career.
"I do feel a lot more enthusiastic and a lot more excited about my game
because I'm out there playing pain-free. I've been able to play the way that
I want to."
Henman is scheduled to play in Basel, Switzerland, next week.
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