Tim Henman produced an impressive display to reach the second round of the Rome Masters with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten. After dropping serve early on, the British number one took control against the three-times French Open champion.
Henman will face either Chile's Nicolas Massu or Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in the next round.
British number two Greg Rusedski failed to spring a surprise as he was beaten 4-6 2-6 by top seed Andy Roddick.
Fourth seed Henman made light work of a potentially tricky test against Kuerten.
 |  If I try to play claycourt players from the baseline there's only going to be one winner |
The Brazilian has been troubled by injuries since his French Open victories, and Henman's controlled gameplan worked well.
After allowing Kuerten to break back to 2-2, Henman produced the decisive break in the eighth game.
He then survived a break point at 2-3 in the second set, and forced another break to go 4-3 up.
A failed drop shot from a demoralised Kuerten handed Henman the match.
"In Kuerten I know I've knocked out a very good player," said Henman, who is gearing up for the French Open where he reached the semi-final last year.
"I think last year was a big breakthrough for me psychologically.
"I know I have to use my style. I have to keep moving forward, using my volleys. If I try to play claycourt players from the baseline there's only going to be one winner."
Roddick came to Rome on the back of winning a claycourt event in Houston, and he did not drop a point on his serve in the opening set
The American broke Rusedski in the ninth game, and repeated the feat twice more in the second set. The 31-year-old Rusedski had just one break point which he failed to convert, and he is now without a win on clay on the ATP Tour since 2001.
"First round matches can be a little uncomfortable because you don't really know where you're at and Greg was serving well in the first set," said Roddick, who will now play Spain's Albert Costa. "For the last couple of years I haven't played my best tennis on clay, but right now I feel as good as I have ever done."
Andre Agassi was another seed to go through, beating Italy's Alessio Di Mauro 7-5 6-2 to earn a meeting with French teenager Richard Gasquet.
MMIX
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