Henman struggles to first round win

Second-seed Tim Henman has struggled to a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Israeli Harel Levy in the opening round of the $375,000 Salem Open.

Second-seed Tim Henman has struggled to a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Israeli Harel Levy in the opening round of the $375,000 Salem Open.

Henman, ranked 11th in the world, lost the first set to the 60th-ranked Levy after squandering a 4-1 lead.

The 26-year-old Henman regained his form in the next two sets.

He said: "In the first set, I didn't execute my shots as well as I would have liked.

"I definitely raised my game in the second set and I played really strong tennis in the third."

Third-seed Nicolas Kiefer of Germany had no trouble beating George Bastl of Switzerland 6-2, 6-4.

"Sure, I did not play my best tennis, but I am happy to win," the 13th-ranked German said.

Also advancing into the second round was Australian Jason Stoltenberg who beat Vladimir Voltchkov of Belarus 6-2, 6-2 at the Victoria Park hardcourt stadium.

In another first round match, Mariano Zabaleta of Argentina defeated Hicham Arazi of Morocco 6-3, 6-2.

Top seed Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil plays his first round match against qualifier Vincent Spadea of the United States. Also competing in the tournament is three-time winner Michael Chang of the United States. The last time Chang won the title was in 1997.