Tennis: Rusedski forced to fight by Fox

Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski, seeded to meet in the men's singles final on Sunday, both had to win opening sets on a tie-break before making progress in the Guardian Direct British National Championships at Telford yesterday.

Rusedski beat James Fox, the 21-year-old Lincolnshire player, 7-6, 6- 4 in the first round after surviving a set point in the tie-break while Henman defeated another 21-year-old, Nick Baglin of Cheshire, 7-6 6-0 in a second-round match.

Fox, who has both a powerful service and a sound return of serve, did not go down easily.

Rusedski, breaking his rival in the eighth game to lead 5-3, looked to be on his way to a comfortable victory but Fox immediately broke back to 30 for 4-5.

Then Fox, 0-40 down in the following game, saved four set points before making it 5-5, and, in the tie-breaker, led 6-5 to hold a set point himself.

Rusedski missed his first serve on the following point but came in behind his second to smash a winner and save the day before taking the next two points, clinching the set with a backhand volley.

Fox never stopped trying but Rusedski broke through in the seventh game of the second set and that one break was enough to allow him to go on to victory in 74 minutes.

Later Rusedski said that, despite the score, he had never been troubled. "James played awfully well on the big points," he said, "but I always felt I was in control.

"I wasn't worried when I missed my first serve when I was set point down. I just concentrated on getting the next one in and winning the point."

Henman had an easier victory, for though Baglin took the first set to a tie-break he was always under siege. Baglin, in fact, did well to save two break points in the fourth game, another in the eighth game and a set point in the 10th before forcing a tie-break.

Then Baglin led 3-2 in the shoot-out with two services to come before Henman buckled down to win it 7-4.

The second set was all one way until Henman led 5-0. But in the sixth game, on Henman's service, Baglin had six break points and Henman had three match points before the Cheshire player hit a backhand return out of court to end the contest after 75 minutes.

Henman praised Baglin's display. "He played a really good first set and I just squeezed home in the tie-breaker. But I shall have to focus more later in the week."

The only shock in the men's singles was provided by Paul Robinson, the 22-year-old Northampton left-hander who beat fourth seeded Danny Sapsford, of Surrey, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the first round.

The Florida-based Megan Miller, the fourth seed from Yorkshire, and Emily Bond, the sixth seed from Gloucestershire, were both beaten.

Miller went down 7-5, 6-2 to the British junior champion, Louise Latimer, from Sutton Coldfield while Bond lost 2-6, 6-4, 8-6 to Heather Matthews of Reading.