Henman under no illusions

Tennis

Tim Henman, the British No 1, began his 1997 campaign two days early when he beat the Austrian qualifier Herbert Wiltschnig 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the Qatar Open in Doha yesterday.

Henman, currently ranked 29 in the world but hoping to break into the top 20 during the next 12 months, had few problems but admitted that the new year might prove more difficult than 1996.

"I think next year will be tougher because all the top players know my game now," he said.

Thomas Enqvist, the second seed from Sweden, was beaten 6-4, 7-5 by his compatriot Magnus Larsson. The elimination of Enqvist was another setback for the organisers, who had already lost Boris Becker and Richard Krajicek through injury.

In Australia, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, the holder, was another big-name casualty, beaten 6-2, 6-2 by Sweden's Mikael Tillstrom in the first round of the Australian Hardcourt Championships in Adelaide.