Tennis: Henman's service crushes Korda

Derrick Whyte
Wednesday 17 February 1999 19:02 EST
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TIM HENMAN powered his way to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Petr Korda last night in the second round of the ATP world indoor event in Rotterdam. The British No 1 served up eight aces as he confidently dispatched the man in the limelight after testing positive for the performance-enhancing steroids at Wimbledon last year.

Henman, seeded third, seized the initiative when he broke Korda's serve to take a 3-1 lead in the opening set. He then kept his nerve and his serve to take the set 6-3 and put himself firmly in the driving seat. The second set went with serve until Henman broke Korda again to take a 5-4 lead and he then held his serve to clinch victory.

His win came hot on the heels of fellow Briton Greg Rusedski's 7-6, 4- 6, 6-3 first round victory over the German Nicolas Kiefer. The British No 2 took the opening set on the tie-break but the German rallied to take the second and level the match.

Rusedski regained his composure in the final set, however, and outplayed Kiefer, a finalist in Dubai last week, to wrap up victory.

Rusedski held serve in the opening game of the final set before breaking Kiefer's serve - with a cross-court pass that clipped the net and landed on the line - to take a 2-0 lead. Kiefer fought back to force a break point on the Rusedski serve, but the Briton saved it with a well-hit smash under pressure and went on to take the game, consolidating the break.

Kiefer, who reached the final of last week's Dubai Open, then received courtside treatment for an injury to his left ankle which was heavily strapped before he was able to continue. He fought back bravely, but Rusedski was still in control and went on to seal victory.

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