Henman sets up Federer date
Tim Henman will have another chance to break Roger Federer’s stranglehold on their rivalry after sweeping aside Hyung-Taik Lee to reach the Japan Open final.
The British number two, who has been in impressive form in Tokyo, beat the Korean ninth seed in straight sets, 6-4 7-6 (7/5).
The decisive break in the first set came at 5-4, but Henman was made to work much harder in the second, in which the pair traded blows all the way to a tie-break.
But the Briton held his nerve to edge it and set up a 13th career meeting with Federer.
The top seed enjoyed an even more straightforward victory over German Benjamin Becker, winning 6-3 6-4 in the day’s first semi-final.
Henman has lost his last five matches against the world number one, the Swiss not even dropping a set against a player who once dominated their rivalry. Henman won the first four clashes between the pair.
But Federer’s rise has coincided with a power shift that saw him level their head-to-head at 6-6 following crushing victories at both Wimbledon and the US Open this year.
Meanwhile, Andy and Jamie Murray’s run in the doubles ended with quarter-final defeat to Americans Paul Goldstein and Jim Thomas this morning.
The Scottish brothers were beaten in straight sets 7-6 (7/4) 6-1 despite making a strong start.
British number one Andy Murray had been hoping to make up for his loss in the second round of the singles competition by maintaining his form in his promising partnership with Jamie.
The pair reached the final of the Thailand Open last week.
