Henman led 5-1, twice served for the match and had a match point at 5-4 but Kafelnikov battled back to deprive the British star of victory.

The British number one lost the first set 6-3 in only 31 minutes and there was no doubt of Kafelnikov's superiority.

Though he has not such a powerful serve as Henman, the 24-year-old Russian held his service more easily and won almost every baseline rally.

Henman, going to the net at every opportunity, had to save a break point as early as the fourth game.

But he was always looking second best and it was no surprise when he dropped his serve in the eighth game.

He saved one break point with a round-arm smash but Kafelnikov, reaching break point again, forced Henman to hit a forehand over the baseline to go to 5-3.

Kafelnikov served an ace to go to set point and then hit a forehand angled winner which the British player had no chance of returning to take the set.

Henman won the second set 7-6 to draw level at set all but he was extremely fortunate.

Kafelnikov broke Henman's serve in the first game of the second set, went to 4-2 and then had a point to break the British player again in the seventh game.

Henman saved it with a forehand drop volley and hung on for 3-4 but then came his first outrageous stroke of fortune. Kafelnikov had never looked like losing his delivery but went 30-40 down in the eighth game.

It was Henman's first break point of the match and he broke Kafelnikov with a backhand return which hit the top of the net and just trickled over the net.

Then in the 11th game, Henman was struggling to save his serve again when at deuce he hit a reflex backhand volley which again hit the top of the net and just went over for another unplayable winner.

So to the tie break in which Henman, refusing to quit, came back from 1-3 down and went to 5-4.

Then came his third lucky shot when the Russian hit a booming first serve which Henman could hit only high in the air and the ball dropped right on the baseline.

A surprised Kafelnikov hit his return over the baseline to give Henman two set points and though the Russian took the next point for 5-6, Henman, on his second set point, hit a service winner to take the set after 85 minutes play.