Henman Crashes Out in First Round

British No1 Tim Henman's nightmare season continued today as he crashed out of the US Open in the first round to unseeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.

Henman, who came into the match struggling for fitness, never got into his stride on the Louis Armstrong Court and eventually went down in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

The 30-year-old had failed to make it past the third round of any of this year's Grand Slam events prior to his arrival in New York, and has still won just one match since his dismal second-round exit at Wimbledon in June.

The wretched performance was in stark contrast to Henman's last appearance at Flushing Meadows - when he looked so comfortable on the hard-court surface en route to last year's semi-finals - and he never got to grips with his big-hitting opponent.

Verdasco, 21, was stronger in every department and cruised to victory as Henman wilted in the New York heat.

The first-round loss now opens the door for arch-rival Greg Rusedski to try to reclaim the British No1 spot he last held in August 1998.

Henman did start the match confidently by holding his opening service game but struggled to make inroads against Verdasco's booming delivery as the first set progressed.

The No12 seed showed an early reluctance to implement his trademark serve-volley game - instead opting to try to break down the Spaniard from the back of the court.

Verdasco, however, refused to be dominated and showed flashes of his ability by carving out two break points in the third game of the match, only for Henman to dig deep and hold on.

But the British number one never really looked convincing and Verdasco secured the crucial first break of the match when Henman pushed a routine volley long to go 4-3 down.

Henman forced a break back point in the very next game, but eventually could do nothing as the Spaniard closed out the first set 6-4.

After making 14 unforced errors in the opening set Henman realised the need to compose himself, but was again facing break points in the third game of the second set.

Despite saving the first with a powerful serve, he slipped further off the pace when a weak forehand into the net put Verdasco 2-1 up.

Another woeful service game from Henman saw the powerful left-hander break again for 4-1 before the second set soon slipped away 6-2.

The final set never looked like being anything more than a formality and Verdasco duly wrapped up a comfortable victory in 1 hour 45 minutes with two more breaks of serve.

Elsewhere, world No1 Roger Federer crusied into the second round with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 thrashing of Ivo Minar.