Henman lands 10th title

Tim Henman heads to Montreal today with a £50,000 winners' cheque and the belief he can still lift a Grand Slam title.

Henman collected his 10th career singles title by defeating Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 6-4 in yesterday's final of the Legg Mason Classic in Washington, to end the frustration caused by a right shoulder injury that required surgery last November.

This victory - via wins over Andy Roddick and Paradorn Srichaphan - proves the 28-year-old can still compete with the very best and must be a contender at the US Open later this month.

Before Henman heads to Flushing Meadow, he faces Gonzalez tomorrow in the first round of the Tennis Masters Series in Montreal and then is off to Cincinnati for another key Masters event.

If Henman reproduces his Washington form, he will become a man to fear on American hard courts and a potential champion at the final Grand Slam of the year.

He will also move into the top 32 - giving him the protection of being seeded at the US Open.

Henman collected 40 valuable Champions Race points as well as that £50,000, but it is the confidence boost that is so important and he said: "I have lost a couple of other finals in the States, so I was keen to get a win on American soil and also my 10th title. That is why it's a special day for me."

The match was held up by rain soon after the start and there was a further delay as Henman served for the first set.

But the British number one coped well and was pleased to overcome a tricky opponent.

"He's a great player," he added. "It was never going to be easy.

"As I shook his hand, he said, 'See you on Tuesday.' So he has his chance for revenge."

Greg Rusedski has a tricky opening clash in Montreal, with Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador.

South Africa's Wayne Ferreira upset former world No1 Lleyton Hewitt in the final of the Mercedes-Benz Cup, winning 6-3, 4-6, 7-5.