World number 10 Tim Henman beat fellow Briton Greg Rusedski today 6-2 7-6 (7-4) to move into the second round of the Australian men's hardcourt championships.
The second seed easily took the first set but the big-serving Rusedski challenged strongly in the second only to surrender his chances with three double faults in the tiebreak.
"I was really pleased with my performance," said Henman, who won two late-year titles at Brighton and Vienna in a career-high five finals last year.
Henman said facing Rusedski in hot conditions in the first round at Adelaide was a tough way to start 2001 but he was keen to continue the good form he had built after changing his serve and fitness programme.
"I was pleased with every aspect of my game," Henman said.
Rusedski, a former world number four, was plagued by injuries throughout lat year and finished with a modest ranking of 69.Reuters
