Henman makes shock exit

Henman slumped to a first-round defeat

Bob Bryan beat Tim Henman 7-6 6-4

Tim Henman's Wimbledon preparations lay in tatters after he was beaten in straight sets by American qualifier Bob Bryan in the first round of the Stella Artois Championships.

The British number one never got going against Bryan and was beaten 7-6 6-4 to the London crowd's dismay.

Bryan said afterwards it was the biggest win of his career, which will be of little comfort to Henman.

Henman struggled to find any form in his first match on grass this year against his left-handed opponent, who had come through the qualifying competition at Queen's.

He will now have to consider playing in a tournament at Nottingham next week - to get matches under his belt and regain confidence.

Blustery conditions

Henman, the eighth-seed, broke Bryan in the opening game of the match but his own service was equally fragile and he squandered the advantage in the very next game.

This is the biggest win of my career and has been a wonderful experience for me

Bob Bryan

Bryan then saved two more break points in the third game as his confidence grew, both players holding serve more easily despite the overcast and blustery conditions.

Three love service games from Henman appeared to signal the world number 14 was gradually finding his feet as the game went into a tie-break.

But that proved a disaster for the Briton, who quickly went 4-0 down with Bryan then sealing the set 7-6 with his third ace.

The second set was going with serve until the ninth game when Bryan played some fantastic shots to break Henman.

He served for the match, and after faltering on three match points, clinched the match at the fourth attempt.

Bryan said afterwards: "This is the biggest win of my career and has been a wonderful experience for me."

He admitted his hands were shaking on match-point but Bryan kept his cool for a sensational victory.

Sampras through

Pete Sampras, meanwhile, powered into the third round of the Stella Artois tournament, after a first round scare against British wild card entry Arvind Parmer.

Parmer became the first grass victim of the season for Sampras, who secured victory 6-7 (8/10), 6-4, 6-3.

Six-time Wimbledon and double Queen's champion Sampras admitted his start was sluggish.

"The first match on grass is always difficult," he said. "I played OK in my first match out of the gates."

Queen's holder Sampras lost the opening set tiebreak after failing on a set point.

But 22-year-old Parmer, 172 in the year-long points race, could not hold onto his lead as Sampras levelled the contest.

In the third, the second seed broke for 4-2 and then moved ahead for victory with an ace.