Henman opens Wimbledon campaign with easy win

Tim Henman opened his Wimbledon campaign in style with an easy victory over Jean-Francois Bachelot this afternoon.

Henman lost just six games as he disposed of the French qualifier in admirably clinical fashion on court one.

The British number one had the upper hand from the outset and wrapped up a 6-1 6-3 6-2 win in just over 90 minutes.

Bachelot was a junior boys' semi-finalist at Wimbledon in 1995 but looked understandably nervous on his senior debut and only third Grand Slam appearance.

The 25-year-old could only win 11 points in the first set - four of them when he held serve in the opening game of the match.

And Henman was in the mood to take advantage of his opponent's numerous errors as he rattled off the next six games in a row to take the first set.

The fourth seed made it nine games in a row as he cruised into a 3-0 lead in the second, but Bachelot at last became more animated as he felt he was on the end of some debatable line calls.

He held serve for the remainder of the set but was unable to take Henman to deuce as Henman moved within sight of a second round berth.

Bachelot was producing moments of brilliance that hinted how he had come through three rounds of qualifiers last week, but too often he followed them up with unforced errors.

A double-fault in the opening game of the third set and a poor backhand into the net gifted Henman another break and the home favourite was soon serving out for an easy victory which was just what the doctor ordered.