Lethargic Henman survives Paris scare

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2004

PARIS (AFP) — A sluggish British number one Tim Henman staged a remarkable comeback from two sets down to advance to the second round of the French Open.

The ninth seed blamed his form on a mystery energy-sapping virus despite finding the strength to survive a marathon 3hr 47min battle to defeat unheralded Frenchman Cyril Saulnier 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-3.

On paper Saulnier should hardly have proved a formidable opponent for the Englishman.

He languished 70 places below him in the world rankings and the 28-year-old Frenchman had won just one previous tour-level match on clay and only two matches in a Grand Slam tournament.

But despite the form which saw him beat Andy Roddick at Indian Wells and reach the quarter-finals on the clay of Monte...