Henman admits knee worries

Tim Henman has admitted he is still hampered by the psychological scars of his recent injury problems.

The British number two returned to action on Tuesday night and was instantly back in his stride as he dispatched France's Nicolas Mahut 6-1 6-2 in little over an hour at the Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas.

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He appeared to be moving well in his first match since October, following a knee injury and a bout of flu which kept him out of the World Tournament in Rotterdam last week.

Henman did not lose serve as he cruised to victory over the world number 78, but he revealed afterwards that fears persist over the durability of his knee.

"The knee seems to be fine and I still need to build up my confidence in it, but as first matches go I couldn't really have asked for anything more," he said.

"I am just excited to be out on the court. I still think a little bit cautiously having had the knee injury and been out for quite some time, but to be playing with no pain and moving better and better is the most important thing."

Henman's victory over Mahut means he will progress from his three-man round-robin group if he beats Spaniard Feliciano Lopez at the Darling Tennis Center later today.

Lopez narrowly edged past his opponent after coming from a set down to claim a 3-6 6-3 7-6 victory.

However, the world number 96 will have little time to recover after nearly two hours on court in contrast to Henman who will have had almost two days to rest.

The inconsistent Lopez, known for favouring a serve-and-volley style unlike almost all of his Spanish compatriots, was beaten by Henman in their only previous meeting in Dubai last year.

Henman will hope he shows no belated ill effects from the fever which hit him shortly after his arrival in Las Vegas, and made his victory over Mahut even more unlikely.

The 32-year-old said: "To play so consistently, to not drop serve having not played for so long, it was a bit surprising.

"Friday night, Saturday I felt awful, I was feverish and not really enjoying my experience of Vegas. But by Sunday, I came out here and hit for half an hour, started to feel better and then I felt good on the court."