Post by 7even on May 11, 2006 23:14:15 GMT
NADAL DISPATCHES HENMAN
Thursday 11th May 2006
www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1-1221468,00.html
Defending champion Rafael Nadal has taken a comfortable 6-2 6-2 victory against Tim Henman to reach the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters.
Despite earlier wins against Alessio Di Mauro and Thomas Johansson, 31-year-old Henman simply had no answer to his 19-year-old opponent's power and precision on the clay of the Foro Italico.
The win against British number two Henman also marked the 50th successive win the reigning French Open champion has scored on the surface.
A break point for Nadal resulted, and was converted after a Henman forehand proved inaccurate.
The Spaniard progressed in typically muscular style, a combination of forehand and backhand strength allowing him to open up a 4-1 lead.
And although Henman held to make the score 4-2, Nadal needed only one set point in the eighth game to take the opening set.
Goings-on off the court again distracted Henman in the second set - a ringing mobile phone this time proving the culprit.
The second set's crucial point came at 30-30 in the fourth game, with a brilliant running forehand from Nadal proving decisive.
He then broke Henman and, despite breaking a string, repeated the feat in the final game of the match.
Meh, no surprise!
Thursday 11th May 2006
www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1-1221468,00.html
Defending champion Rafael Nadal has taken a comfortable 6-2 6-2 victory against Tim Henman to reach the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters.
Despite earlier wins against Alessio Di Mauro and Thomas Johansson, 31-year-old Henman simply had no answer to his 19-year-old opponent's power and precision on the clay of the Foro Italico.
The win against British number two Henman also marked the 50th successive win the reigning French Open champion has scored on the surface.
A break point for Nadal resulted, and was converted after a Henman forehand proved inaccurate.
The Spaniard progressed in typically muscular style, a combination of forehand and backhand strength allowing him to open up a 4-1 lead.
And although Henman held to make the score 4-2, Nadal needed only one set point in the eighth game to take the opening set.
Goings-on off the court again distracted Henman in the second set - a ringing mobile phone this time proving the culprit.
The second set's crucial point came at 30-30 in the fourth game, with a brilliant running forehand from Nadal proving decisive.
He then broke Henman and, despite breaking a string, repeated the feat in the final game of the match.
Meh, no surprise!
