Storm takes the wind out of Henman's sails

The British No 1 Tim Henman lost his rain-delayed semi-final against Gustavo Kuerten at the Masters Series event here yesterday.

Henman lost the first set on Saturday, but was 5-1 ahead in the second when a storm brought play to an end. Yesterday, he held serve to immediately level the match.

The Briton, who had beaten Kuerten to reach last year's final where he lost to the Swede Thomas Enqvist, then matched the Brazilian all the way in a tight final set, before losing the tie-break 7-4 to make the final analysis 6-2, 1-6, 7-6.

Kuerten had arrived at this tournament with five titles to his name this year, including the French Open, while Henman had only won at Copenhagen in February. But his decision to team up with John McEnroe's former coach Larry Stefanki for the US hardcourt season looks to have been an astute one.

Henman had had to defend a break point in the sixth game of the final set, chasing down a wide forehand winner, but gave Kuerten another immediate opportunity when netting a volley. Then, as he is prone to do in such situations, Henman double-faulted and Kuerten was able to take a 4-2 lead.

In a set which had none of the one-sided nature of the opening two, Henman broke back in the next game as he boldly attacked the net, chipping and charging where possible.

Both players held their next service games to set up the tie-break to decide the finalist. Kuerten, backed by a large Brazilian following, claimed the first mini-break to go 2-0 up, and broke once more to be 5-2 and within sight of victory.

The Briton claimed a mini-break back as Kuerten put a volley into the net. But Henman could only knock a powerful cross-court service return long and victory belonged to the man from Florianopolis. He plays Pat Rafter, who beat his fellow Australian Lleyton Hewitt 6-4, 6-3, in the final.