Henman Ends Hewitt Jinx
Tim Henman ended his six-year losing streak against Lletyon Hewitt with a stunning 7-6 6-3 victory at the Nasdaq-100 Open in Miami on Saturday.
Henman, 31, claimed his first win in nine meeting with the Australian and will face Simon Greul in the last 32.
But fellow Briton Greg Rusedski suffered a battling 6-4 6-4 defeat to Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela.
Meanwhile, Swiss Roger Federer began his title defence with a 6-2 6-7 6-0 win against Arnaud Clement.
Federer’s victory enabled him to equal former world number one Pete Sampras’ 19-match Masters Series winning streak, having started his run in Hamburg last year.
Success was sweet for British number three Henman, who has racked up back to back victories over former world number ones after defeating Marat Safin in the first round.
“I played a good match,” he said.
“I think my match against Safin was much cleaner and of probably a higher quality but this was a case of different conditions against a different opponent. This was more satisfying.”
Rusedski was unable to equal his compatriot’s feat, slipping to a straight-sets loss against Chela.
