Tim Henman played the game of his life to beat world number two Marcelo Rios 7-5 6-1 in his opening group match as he made a flying start at the ATP Tour Championship in Hanover yesterday.

Rios, never the most popular player on tour, tried to take a little gloss off his defeat by complaining at his press interview later that he had a bad back.

Yet he dropped only six points in his first five service games and it was not until Henman had broken him in the 12th game to take the first set that Rios began to look both weary and despondent.

Henman said: "I think it was mostly my first serve that won me the match. I had lost to him twice before this year but then I felt I was not aggressive enough. Tonight I applied pressure from the start."

As for the Rios injury, Henman added: "When I was a set and a break up the match was there for the taking and from his point of view the injury gets worse.

"Once I had broken him to lead 3-1 in the second set I made sure I did not let my mind wander and I took my opportunity.

"Even if I had lost I still felt I could qualify for the semi-final, but to win two straight I now have an even greater chance."

Rios said: "My back is really bad and hurting a lot. I do not feel in great condition to keep on playing. I've had this problem for two months and it's a bad time to have an injury."

Andre Agassi had previously also complained of back trouble so Greg Rusedski, who will come in if any player drops out through injury, may be even more optimistic.

Whatever the state of other players, Henman could be well satisfied with his display for he looked like a player who might very soon be challenging for the world number one spot.

For 11 games there was little to choose between the two men, Henman dropping only five points in his first six service games and Rios six in his first five.

But the turning point came in the 12th game when Henman raised his game to another level and broke Rios to love to take the first set after 38 minutes.

Earlier in the day Pete Sampras had beaten Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-2 6-4 in the opening match in the Red Group and Spaniard Carlos Moya had come from behind to beat Karol Kucera of the Slovak Republic 6-7 (7-5) 75 6-3 in another Red Group contest.