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Henman makes last eight in Japan Resurgent Henman into Japan semis
(about 7 hours later)
Tim Henman overcame a sluggish start to beat Argentine teenager Juan Martin del Potro and reach the quarter-finals of the Japan Open in Tokyo. Tim Henman shrugged off fatigue to defeat both Juan Martin del Potro and Mario Ancic on the same day to reach the Japan Open semi-finals.
The British number two trailed the 18-year-old 1-4 in the opening set of their rain-delayed match before coming back to win it on the tie-break. Rain had postponed his match against Del Porto but the Briton dug in, battling back from 1-4 in the opener to claim a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 win.
The 32-year-old then broke immediately in the second set to wrap up a 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 win. After nearly a 12-hour wait, Henman secured early breaks in each set to wrap up a 6-2 6-2 win over Ancic.
The world number 55 now plays third seed Mario Ancic later on Friday. The Briton now meets Korean Hyung-Taik Lee for a place in the final.
The Croat, who was runner-up in Japan last year, saw off Rainer Schuttler of Germany in three sets. Lee, the ninth seed in Japan, knocked out Spanish second seed Tommy Robredo.
Despite his early blip, Henman was pleased with the way he played. Henman is attempting to reach his first ATP tour final since reaching the Indian Wells final in March 2004.
Mario will be a difficult one as I've never beaten him Tim Henman Argentine teenager Del Porto was on course to derail Henman's challenge as he raced to a 4-1 lead when their match finally got under way at 0900 Tokyo time.
"Even when I was a break down in the first set, I was hitting the ball well," he said. However, Henman recovered and claimed the tie-break before breaking immediately in the second set to wrap up the match.
"I created a lot of opportunities. So I just stayed patient. I played better and better as the match went on, so I'm really pleased. Ancic, who knocked Henman out of the 2004 Wimbledon quarter-finals, looked like a tricky prospect for the 32-year-old Briton.
"I lost my serve once and did a very good job to get in front in the second set. I really think the conditions suit me well." But a tough 6-2 4-6 6-4 victory against Rainer Schuttler earlier in the day had taken its toll on the big-serving Ancic and an in-form Henman easily moved past him and into the last four.
It will be a long day for Henman, whose match against Del Potro began at 9am local time but whose quarter-final is unlikely to start before midnight in Japan. Roger Federer and unseeded German Benjamin Becker face each other in the second semi-final on Saturday.
"I'm not usually at my best first thing in the morning and nine o'clock is pretty early to be out on the match court so I'm pleased I won under the circumstances," he said. Andy Murray and his brother Jamie will kick-off the weekend's action after their doubles semi-final against Americans Paul Goldstein and Jim Thomas was postponed.
"Mario will be a difficult one as I've never beaten him. The first time we played at Wimbledon, I played poorly and lost in straight sets."
  • Benjamin Becker's third-round victory over Jiri Novak at the Japan Open set a new record - the match finished at 0324 local time, the latest finish for a singles match in ATP history.