Henman's Californian cruise

Henman's volleying was too crisp for Pioline

Tim Henman and Pete Sampras advanced to the third round of the Tennis Masters Series in Indian Wells, California, on Wednesday.

The Briton, seeded 10th, had his serve broken at the start of each set against Cedric Pioline but hit back strongly to see off the Frenchman.

The victory, achieved in one hour 16 minutes, gave the British number one a 3-2 career edge over Pioline.

"I think my consistency to keep him under pressure as much as possible definitely paid off," said Henman.

In the first, I dictated, in the second I got careless and lost my way

  Pete Sampras

"That tactic of giving him as little time as possible certainly paid dividends.

"It's a fine balance of me being aggressive to give him as little time as possible, but not overstepping the mark where I'm going to start making unforced errors."

Henman will now play Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti following his 6-3 6-2 victory over Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden.

Later on Wednesday, Sampras struggled past France's Fabrice Santoro 6-3 3-6 6-0.

For the 29-year-old, seeded three and winner of this tournament in 1994 and 1995, the victory evened out his record against Santoro to 3-3. Santoro won their last meeting 6-1 6-1 in Monte Carlo in 1998.

Pete Sampras struggles past France's Fabrice Santoro

Despite the win, Sampras, a first-round loser at his past two tournaments, will need to find his best form soon as he double faulted 10 times and registered 40 unforced errors.

He compensated with 50 winners, converting on four of his seven break point chances in the 90-minute contest.

"It was a good first set and a good third set," said Sampras.

"I got off to a good start. In the first, I dictated, in the second I got careless and lost my way.

I wish I could play at 2pm, that is better

  Gustavo Kuerten

"In the third I concentrated on tightening up my game, not making as many errors. When I got that second break of serve, I thought I had the match clinched."

Gustavo Kuerten, the top seed, was another leading light to struggle in the morning session.

"I wish I could play at 2pm, that is better," said Kuerten after he beat American teenager Taylor Dent 6-4 6-7 6-2.

Andre Agassi remained on course to face Henman in the quarter-finals with a 7-6 6-3 win over Tommy Haas and he will now face another German in Nicolas Kiefer, a 6-4 6-1 winner over America's Mardy Fish.

Sixth seed Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, defeated Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan 6-3 6-3.

France's Sebastien Grosjean ousted Spain's former world No 1 Carlos Moya 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7/3).

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Results

A Agassi bt Tommy Haas 7-6 (7/5) 6-3
Y Kafelnikov bt F Clavet 6-3 7-6 (8/6)
J Gambill bt Fernando Vicente 6-3 6-2
P Sampras bt F Santoro 6-3 3-6 6-0
T Henman bt Cedric Pioline 6-3 6-3
B Ulihrach bt N Massu 6-2 2-0 (rtd)
G Kuerten bt T Dent 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 6-2
L Hewitt bt P Srichaphan 6-3 6-3
P Rafter bt A di Pasquale 6-2 6-2
S Grosjean bt C Moya 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7/3)
A Clement bt G Pozzi 6-3 6-4
N Escude bt T Johansson 6-1 6-7 (5/7) 7-5
A Corretja bt S Schalken 6-3 7-6 (7/2)
G Ivanisevic bt T Enqvist 7-6 (7/1) 6-3
P Rafter bt A di Pasquale 6-2 6-2
N Kiefer bt M Fish 6-4 6-1
N Lapentti bt J Bjorkman 6-3 6-2