Henman battles way to five set win over Karlovic

TIM HENMAN won his first-round match against Ivo Karlovic in the US Open at Flushing Meadows yesterday. The British number one was 2-1 down but grafted his way to a fifth set before out-classing his opponent in the decider.

The fifth seed meets Jerome Golmard of France in the next round - who won when Irakli Labadze retired - and he will be fresher than Henman after his gruelling 7-6 (7-2) 6-7 (7-9) 4-6 6-4 6-4 win.

Henman’s fitness was less of a worry during this victory, although his performance against an inferior player looked rusty.