Henman bows out

Henman found the going tough

Tim Henman wasted an opportunity to get revenge against Mariano Zabaleta in Hamburg on Thursday as he bowed out in the third round of the latest Masters Series event.

The Argentinian had beaten Henman on two of their previous three meetings, and inflicted a humiliating first round defeat on the British number one in the AXA Cup at London Arena in February.

He was coming in to the net but I tried to get him there when I wanted

Mariano Zabaleta

He won in a three-set quarter-final last year, and triumphed 7-5 6-3 in their latest encounter as Henman made 35 unforced errors.

Henman, seeded eighth, had led 5-4 with a break in the opener, but allowed his opponent to take the next three games to move one set up.

Five successive games went against the serve from the middle of the second set, but Zabaleta held when serving for the match and will meet Romanian Andre Pavel in the quarter-finals on Friday.

"We both played very well," Zabaleta said. "This year we played twice so I know him.

"I feel very good here in Hamburg. I played the final last year and have a lot of confidence.

"He was coming in to the net but I tried to get him there when I wanted."