Henman revels in win

Henman beat fourth-seed Murray for the first time in his career in straight sets 6-4 6-2, and he admitted he felt his confidence grow as the match progressed.

"My game got better and better as the match went on," he said.

"I started to dominate and get ahead. Even on the set points that I lost I still played good shots."

Henman lost to Murray twice in the space of two weeks recently at the Masters tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati, but he said that those matches helped to teach him the best way to play against Murray.

"He's the kind of player that the more you attack him, the better he plays," the former British number 1 said.

"I played patiently, my serve was good, and I had to vary my game and keep changing the pace.

"The quality of players he has beaten is what I can take confidence from."

Murray thought his busy match schedule and an abrupt shift from clay to hardcourt had impacted on his performance.

"Maybe it was one match too many," he told reporters. "I made a 20-hour flight then tried to play my best tennis. Normally when I lose I'm disappointed, but this time I'm not.

"It wasn't the best decision to play here, but it's something I'll learn from," he added.

Meanwhile, former world number one Marat Safin of Russia got past a tough first round test against Kevin Kim of the United States, going through 2-6 6-1 6-4.

Safin forced his way back into the match after losing the first set and said he was pleased with his form after a lengthy spell sidelined with a knee injury.

"I'm very happy with the way I'm moving and the way my knee is holding up," he told reporters.

"I'm facing some difficult matches in the next few rounds, even more difficult than today. It's not going to be easy here."

In other first round action, Germany's Rainer Schuettler beat Korea's Lee Hyung-Taik 6-1 6-4 and fifth seed Jarkko Nieminen saw off Argentina's Edgardo Massa 6-7 6-3 6-2.

Henman beat fourth-seed Murray for the first time in his career in straight sets 6-4 6-2, and he admitted he felt his confidence grow as the match progressed.

"My game got better and better as the match went on," he said.

"I started to dominate and get ahead. Even on the set points that I lost I still played good shots."

Henman lost to Murray twice in the space of two weeks recently at the Masters tournaments in Toronto and Cincinnati, but he said that those matches helped to teach him the best way to play against Murray.

"He's the kind of player that the more you attack him, the better he plays," the former British number 1 said.

"I played patiently, my serve was good, and I had to vary my game and keep changing the pace.

"The quality of players he has beaten is what I can take confidence from."