Tim Henman got his Australian Open challenge off to an encouraging start as he overcame Frenchman Jerome Golmard in four sets in the opening round in Melbourne.

But another Briton, lucky loser Jamie Delgado, went down in straight sets to Switzerland's Marc Rosset following his late call-up to the first round draw.

Last year's runner-up, Thomas Enqvist of Sweden, and 14th seed Karol Kucera became the biggest names to crash out of the tournament on day one.

Left-hander Golmard posed a serious threat to British number one Henman, having won both their meetings last year and also triumphing in a five-set match at the same stage of this event in 1997.

And when Golmard took the first set in a tie-break, it looked like a repeat performance was on the cards.

But Henman, seeded 11th in the season-opening Grand Slam tournament, hit back by breaking in the sixth game of the second set and holding serve twice to level the match.

He then took two more tie-breaks to go through 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7) in three-and-a-half hours.

Tim toughs it out

World number 12 Henman never looked entirely in charge in hot conditions on Melbourne Park's showcourt number one.

Golmard saved five match points on his own serve in the fourth set - one in the ninth game and then another four on his serve in an enthralling 11th game.

Henman fought his way back during the fourth set tie-breaker, where world number 35 Golmard had several chances to push the match into a fifth set.

The Briton clinched a place in the second round with a delicate drop shot over the net on his fifth match point to take the final tie-breaker 9-7.

His next opponent is German Rainer Schuttler, a straight sets winner over Costa Rican Juan Antonio Marin.

Henman admitted he was delighted to get the new season under way following a disappointing end to 1999.

"I think that physically I probably feel stronger than I have ever felt, and that gives you a big boost mentally," he said.

"It was not an enjoyable time career-wise at the end of last year. Now I feel much better about what I am working towards.

"I'm not going to get carried away by one win but I do feel very positive."

Out, in and out again

Delgado failed to qualify for the first round - but he was called back into action at a few minutes' notice as a lucky loser after 1997 runner-up Carlos Moya pulled out injured.

His Melbourne campaign did not last long, though, as he went down in straight sets to Switzerland's Rosset, conqueror of Henman in the third round last year.

Delgado, 22, did have a set point at 6-5 in the first set, but Rosset saved it and won the resultant tie-break 7-0, before winning the next two sets 6-3 7-6.

The elimination of Enqvist, who lost a marathon match 6-4 7-6 4-6 3-6 10-8 to Australian challenger Richard Fromberg, was a further boost to Henman, with the Briton due to meet the sixth seed later in the competition.

American Todd Martin, the number eight seed, was also two sets down - but unlike Enqvist he was able to complete the comeback and beat Zimbabwe's Byron Black.

Top men's seed Andre Agassi breezed through 6-2 6-2 6-3 against Argentina's Mariano Puerta.

Agassi's arch rival Pete Sampras, who is aiming to set a new record of 13 Grand Slam titles, was equally impressive as he beat Australia's Wayne Arthurs in the last match in the evening.

But 16th seed Mark Philippoussis, Australia's top hope following the enforced absence of Pat Rafter, was taken to five sets by Israeli qualifier Noam Okun.

And Slovak seed Kucera bowed out to little known Thai player Paradorn Srichaphan 6-2 6-4 3-6 6-3.