NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Henman give Britain 2-0 lead

Tim Henman dropped a set on the way to beating Mahesh Bhupathi to give Britain a 2-0 lead over India in a Davis Cup world group qualifying round tie.

The British number one lost the first set but fought back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 against the world number 363.

Henman was expected to outclass Bhupathi but continually struggled against the 24-year-old Indian's double-handed backhand returns as the pair swapped service breaks in the opening two sets.

In the earlier singles rubber, Greg Rusedski saved a match point in the fifth set and survived a marathon match today against Leander Paes to give Britain a 1-0 lead over India in a Davis Cup world group qualifying round tie.

Rusedski repeatedly battled from behind in the final set to prevail 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 11-9 in three hours, 16 minutes.

Paes twice served for the match at 5-4 and 6-5. But Rusedski broke back each time, saving a match point in the 12th game with a backhand service return that clipped the net cord and dropped at the Indian's feet.

Rusedski got in trouble again on his own serve, going down 0-40 at 6-6 and 15-40 at 7-7. But he fought back to hold the game.

Rusedski led 10-9 when he broke Paes to close out the match. At 15-40, Paes saved the first match point with a forehand passing shot. But he double-faulted on the second to end the match.

Mahesh Bhupathi will face Tim Henman in the second singles match.

The winner of the tie will advance to the elite 16-team world group. Britain hasn't played in the world group since 1992.

UNI