Britain's Tim Henman made a fine start to the Madrid Masters Series with a clinical 6-2, 6-4 first-round win over American Taylor Dent on Monday.

The 31-year-old, who is danger of spoiling his record of finishing in the top 20 and reaching at least one ATP final in each of the last eight years, was in determined mood.

Henman, who has only won one match in his previous three appearances in Madrid, out-thought and out-played the powerful Californian on the centre court at the Madrid Arena.

The unseeded Briton now meets 10th seed Czech Radek Stepanek in the second round of the two million-euro ($2.41 million) hardcourt tournament.

Sebastian Grosjean also showed signs of returning to form with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 win over home favourite Feliciano Lopez.

The Frenchman, who has had a disappointing season and looks like finishing outside the top 20 for the first time in six years, now faces 16th-seeded American Robby Ginepri.

The partisan home crowd on centre court were given something to cheer, however, when Fernando Verdasco overcame a second set wobble to beat France's [Images] Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Another Spaniard Alberto Martin fought back from a set down to earn a 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 win over Jiri Novak of Czech Republic who was a finalist here in the 2002 inaugural edition.

Argentines Agustin Calleri and Juan Ignacio Chela, who both had to qualify, breezed through their matches. Calleri disposed of Spain's Albert Costa 6-0 7-5 while Chela, beat 2003 finalist Nicolas Massu of Chile 6-2, 6-3.

Austria's Juergen Melzer, who beat American Vince Spadea 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, was rewarded with a tough match against fifth seed David Nalbandian, while Victor Hanescu of Romania overcame Czech Tomas Zib 6-1, 6-4 to earn a clash with top seed and world number two Rafael Nadal [Images] on Wednesday.

Nadal withdrew from last week's tournament in Vienna because of a knee problem but confirmed he would play in Madrid after undergoing further tests on Monday.

FLYING START

Henman got off to a flying start against the powerful Californian Dent, breaking serve in the opening game with a superb flighted backhand pass.

Quick to the net and light on his feet, the Briton produced top class returns to counter Dent's booming serves and began working the big American around the court in the next few games.

Henman broke again in the fifth game on his way to a 5-1 lead in the first set and served out to take it 6-2.

Dent began to find his rhythm in the second set and briefly threatened Henman's serve in the third game but the Briton held firm and broke in the seventh after forcing Dent into an error at the net.

Henman never lost concentration and served out to love in the 10th game to take a convincing victory in just over an hour and a quarter.

Grosjean and Lopez began in confident mood as they delivered a succession of high-speed serves but the Frenchman, who lost to Andy Roddick [Images] in the U.S. clay court final in Houston this year, stepped up a gear on the Lopez serve to take the first set 7-5.

• Complete tennis coverage
• All you want to know about Sania Mirza