Tennis: Henman humbled by Sinner

Accustomed as we had become to reporting about Britons ranked around No 180 losing first-round matches against opponents in the top 20, it came as something of a shock last night that an opponent ranked No 183 had defeated Oxford's world No 17, Tim Henman.

Such is the measure of Henman's impact recently that his fall to a German qualifier, Martin Sinner, 7-6, 6-4, in the Dubai Open disappointed the majority of the spectators.

It was the manner of the defeat that irritated Henman and observers who have charted his rise to prominence. "It's no good creating chances if you don't take them," he said, adding, "He had one chance - a double- fault - and that was the crux.''

The British No 1 failed to convert any of seven break points in the opening set, several of which were donated to him by Sinner's unforced errors - including two double-faults at 5-5. Although the German did not have a single break point in the set, he clinched the tie-break by two mini- breaks to one, 7-5.

Henman's double-faults subsequently presented Sinner with the first break of the match, for 2-1 in the second set. And even though Henman managed to break back in the next game, the success was chiefly due to his opponent, who could hardly have directed a high forehand volley over the baseline with greater awkwardness if he had been using a frying pan.

A bizarre sequence of shots, culminating with a winning smash after a net cord and a deflection off a net post, brought Sinner three break points in the ninth game. Henman saved one with a serve and volley, only for Sinner to attack a second serve with a backhand pass.

Henman's backhand had been so unreliable for the majority of the 92 minutes of the match that there was a certain irony about the perfection of his shot which saved the first match point. Sinner did not hesitate over the second opportunity, passing Henman with a backhand across the court.

It was Henman's first match for three weeks, since a splendid start to the year as a finalist in Qatar, a victory in Sydney and an appearance in the third round of the Australian Open, in which he was defeated by Michael Chang, the No 2 seed.

"It's disappointing to lose in the first round, but it happens to a lot of players," Henman said. "Just because I've lost one match I don't think I need to change the direction in which I'm moving.''

Sinner, 29 last Friday, had his career disrupted by torn ligaments in his left ankle, caused by playing football in 1989. The injury required three operations, the last in March 1993.

Henman had won their two previous matches in straight sets, on the grass at London's Queen's Club in 1995 and on an indoor carpet in Copenhagen last year. "Having talked about my performance tonight," Henman said, "I think Martin did very well and deserves a lot of credit.''

This afternoon Henman is due to play doubles in partnership with Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, and intends to make the most of the special atmosphere here.

Things have never been quite the same in this part of the world since Peter O'Toole played Lawrence of Arabia. The novelty this year is an Irish village, complete with a replica of Ballinasloe Post Office and a cartload of Guinness barrels, which has materialised on the west side of Dubai Tennis Stadium.

Far from a mirage, the reproduction of a little piece of Ireland serves to emphasise a strong connection between the Emerald Isle and the Dubai Open, specifically with the tournament's promoters, Dubai Duty Free.

Inspired by the success of the duty free operation at Shannon Airport, the director general of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, Mohi-din Benhindi, sought the advice of the Irish Government. He was invited to Shannon and subsequently recruited staff to set up shop in the Emirates, people such as Colm McLoughlin, who "came for five months and have been here for 14 years''.