Nadal neutralises Henman after Roddick overpowers Rusedski

Henman, whose fellow countryman Greg Rusedski was beaten 7-6, 6-2 by Andy Roddick earlier in the day, had clearly decided there would be no point in playing Nadal at his own game and attacked from the first point, which he won with a splendid forehand.

Nadal, however, is a remarkable retriever of apparently lost causes and constantly forced his opponent into going for one shot too many. Henman actually hit more winners ­ 16 to Nadal's 15 ­ but the Spaniard's weight of shot, lightning reactions and speed around the court also induced a series of errors.

Henman, who had lost to Nadal in Dubai earlier this year in their only previous meeting, was broken in the fourth game as he tried to force the pace and lost his serve again when he hit a forehand out on the Spaniard's first set point at 5-2. The second set followed a similar pattern and Nadal secured victory after an hour and 11 minutes, after successfully chasing down a drop shot.

Rusedski's defeat was more comprehensive than the score suggested as Roddick, the man with the world's fastest serve, outgunned the previous holder of the record. Until the first set tie-break, which he won 7-4, the American dropped only two points on serve. In the second set Rusedski took just three points against serve as Roddick won the last four games.

While Rusedski always looked to attack, Roddick was prepared to play a waiting game. The American, who rarely ventured to the net, made just 13 unforced errors. Rusedski made 34, including 21 on his usually stronger forehand side. But the man who will become British No 1 when the new rankings are announced on Monday was pleased with his most successful week on clay for seven years.

Roger Federer, the No 1 seed, needed less than an hour to beat Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-4. After the match he was asked if he had questioned the Pope, whom he had met the previous day, about how to beat Nadal on clay. "No," Federer replied optimistically. "I don't need his help for that. "

* The Swiss former world No 1 Martina Hingis eased past the fifth seed, Elena Dementieva of Russia, 6-3, 6-2 at the German Open in Berlin yesterday to set up an eagerly anticipated quarter-final against the top seed, France's Amélie Mauresmo. The French Open champion and No 3 seed, Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium, also progressed yesterday, thrashing Maria Kirilenko, of Russia, 6-1, 6-0 in under an hour as she pursues a fourth title in Berlin.