Nadal Far Too Hot for Henman

Tim Henman was bundled out of the Dubai Open in the quarter-finals after fit-again world No2 Rafael Nadal swept to a 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 victory.

Henman matched the French Open champion in a high-quality first set, but once Nadal turned up the heat in the tie-break Henman was unable to respond. Nadal broke Henman twice in the second set and completed an impressive victory with his eighth ace.

The Briton was understandably keen to avoid a baseline battle against the world’s best clay court player, and his aggressive tactics worked well until the tie-beak, when the dynamic Spaniard produced his best tennis of the week so far. After that point there was no stopping Nadal, who is now back to full fitness after a foot injury kept him out of this year’s Australian Open.

Henman’s determination to reach the net and shorten the points almost paid off in Nadal’s first service game. He came in behind a sliced backhand and guided a backhand volley past the Spaniard to snatch an early chance to break. But Nadal saved the break point, and two further opportunities, and went on to grab the initiative himself in the fifth game, when he broke the Briton with a superb backhand winner.

Henman saved four further break points in the ninth game, and was back on level terms after Nadal double faulted at break point in the next game. It was the only break point Henman would convert, despite creating nine opportunities. He also held his first service game of the second set, but Nadal’s astonishing speed and forceful groundstrokes eventually wore down the 31-year-old, who also fell at this stage in last year’s tournament.

"It was a difficult match but very important," said Nadal, who has recently returned from a foot injury. "I feel very good, I feel 100% now, the injury is finished."