Tim Henman comfortably moved into the second round of the ATP Franklin Templeton Classic in Scottsdale, Arizona with a 6-1 6-2 win over Spain's Albert Costa today.
The British star improved his record for the season to 13-3 and also avenged the defeat by Costa the last time they played indoors at Paris in November.
"I was right on my game. I have no complaints about any part of it. I didn't allow him to play well and stayed in control," said Henman.
"This form shows that all of the hard work I've put in over the past year is paying off well. I'm very pleased with the match and my performance."
Henman saved two break points in the third game of the first set then broke the Spaniard for the second time for a 5-1 lead. He took the first set with an ace.
The number six seed began the second set with a break and from then was never in danger.
In other matches Swedish duo Magnus Norman and Thomas Enqvist also breezed through to the second round.
Norman, the third seed, overcame Italian stylist Gianluca Pozzi 7-6 6-3 while fifth-seeded Enqvist, who is playing his first event since shoulder and foot surgery in December, stopped Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco 4-6 6-3 6-2. AFP