Latest tennis results Madrid models divide opinions

Henman, the top seed for the indoor tournament, looked fresh after a three-week rest and unsettled his unseeded opponent with a great mix of shots.

But the Briton was made to work - after racing to a 5-1 lead, Costa won three games in a row to give him a scare.

Costa continued his brave defence in the second set but Henman's class told.

Henman admitted a lapse in concentration in the latter stages of the first set had let Costa back into the match.

"Costa held his serve at 5-1 and in several games I lost my mental routine, I wasn't concentrating on every point and made life difficult for myself," he said.

If I can be disciplined and serve aggressively, I will be hard to break Tim Henman

"When my head was clear I felt comfortable."

Henman was quickly into his stride at the Rockodromo, the 30-year-old breaking Costa three times in a row at the start of the match.

The world number five dropped one service game himself but looked in complete control at 5-1 before the Spaniard rattled off three straight games.

But Henman held on in the 10th game - saving another break point - to take the opening set.

And, although distracted by flashing advertising boards, he kept his composure to make an early breakthrough in the second set and broke again at 5-2 with a fierce return.

Grandstand discussion area: Who will win the Madrid Masters?

Costa was riled by a line call in the next game but the umpire was having none of it and Henman duly took the second set and the match.

Henman now faces Croatian Ivan Ljubicic - a big-serving player that the Briton has only beaten once in three matches.

"These will be conditions that suit Ljubicic well," Henman said.

"He's got a huge, huge serve. I think that emphasises the point that I have to take care of my serve because there probably won't be too many opportunities.