Henman takes a hit as Murray scores British upset win

By Bill Scott Oct 26, 2005, 17:36 GMT

Andy Murray returns a ball to compatriot Tim Henman during their first round match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament in Basel, Switzerland, Wednesday October 26, 2005. EPA/MARKUS STUECKLIN

Basel, Switzerland - Teenaged talent Andy Murray slammed the door on a decade of dominance from sixth seed Tim Henman as he beat his countryman 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (7-4) in a battle of the generations at the 829,000-euros Swiss Indoors.

The struggle in two-and-a-quarter hours marked the first time that Henman has lost to a compatriot since 1998, when Greg Rusedski beat him in Hanover at the year-end championships - in a dead rubber.

But the modest Murray, while playing down the significance of the victory, admitted: 'This was the biggest win of my career.

'Tim's been one of the best and most consistent British player of the past decade. To win 7-6 in the third after failing to serve it out at 5-4 in the second does a lot for your confidence.'

Henman, a four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist whose Davis Cup career ended last year just as the 18-year-old Murray came onto the squad as an 'orange boy' non-playing junior, heads home with carrying his first-ever defeat in a Basel first round.

The 31-year-old owns titles from 1998 and 2001 as well as a 1999 final.

But Henman, deflating much of the pre-match hype, said the loss, while disappointing, did not mark a watershed.

'I don't know what this mysterious thing is - a baton, a flag, a torch? - but whatever it is, you can pass it to Andy. On this occasion, I won't be offended,' he said - only half light-heartedly.

'This was not a defining moment for Andy, nor for me. It's not that frequent for two Brits to play each other. But Argentines and Spanish do it every week, that's because there are so many of them in the game. That's what we need also.'

Henman has been playing in recent weeks without the back troubles which have bothered him for months.

Until Wednesday, he had reached the quarter-finals or better in his seven previous appearances in Basel.

Murray is playing for the first time since challenging Roger Federer in the Bangkok final, then resting a hamstring injury.

'I've always believed in myself and believed that I can win matches like these,' said the 70th-ranked teenager. 'Coming back for the first time after serving for it changes everything.

'I've never won any matches like that before, it's good for you mentally.'

Murray is only now pondering the enormity of his achievement - in British terms. 'I've looked up to Tim forever. To win like this, beating him at such a young age is pretty special.'

Top seed Guillermo Coria earned a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Spain's Alberto Martin as his claim on a place in next month's season-ending Masters Cup strengthens.

The Argentine, who has lost three tournament finals this season to world number 2 Rafael Nadal, stands provisional sixth in the race to Shanghai.

If he reaches the Sunday final in Switzerland, the former French Open finalist will pass Andre Agassi with a week to play at the Paris Masters on the ATP.

'My main goal is a place in Shanghai,' said Coria, who next takes on Belgian Kristof Vliegen for a quarter-final spot. 'I'm really hoping to get there.

'I didn't play my best match, but I'm fairly pleased with my form today, I was a bit tired.'

Second-seeded Argentine Nalbandian, who won in 2002, will open later against huge-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic as the pair meet for the second week in succession.

In the Madrid quarter-finals, Nalbandian tamed the giant in straight sets.

Slovak fifth seed Dominik Hrbaty came up a first-round winner, defeating Argentine Juan Chela 7-6 (9-7), 6-2 and improving to 38-24 on the season.