Henman and Sampras look impressive

Tim Henman and Pete Sampras commanded the stage at the Stella Artois Championships at Queen's Club this afternoon with performances that could send them on to a second final in three years.

Henman took care of the unpredictable challenge from 31-year-old Italian qualifier Cristiano Caratti, beating him 6-3, 6-1, and Sampras, who started the display of strength and ambition on the Centre Court, demolished the challenge of 20-year-old Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-1, 6-2 in 44 minutes.

For both winners, this was their return to grass after losing in the first week of the French Open and as both expect to be involved in the critical stages of Wimbledon, it was important that they began well.

Caratti's portfolio of tennis success is a little mixed. He has beaten John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors, but it was all a long time ago and the aggressive Henman was a reminder of how hard it is on today's circuit.

Henman hopes to reap the benefit of all the work he has put in on European clay this year and he had all the power in his game to keep Caratti under control when it was needed.

Caratti was given the rare chance of a break point in the final game, but Henman brushed that away and won on his first match point. Henman's next opponent is Australian Wayne Arthurs, a tougher serving prospect.

Four days after flying in from the USA to start his countdown to Wimbledon, Sampras barely put a foot wrong.

He served 14 aces against Rochus and said: "It was one of those days when everything just clicked. It doesn't happen very often that you play well in the first match of a tournament.

"You wish it would happen every day, but unfortunately that is not the case."

Sampras is second seed behind the Russian Marat Safin, who stopped him in the US Open final last year.

In the final game of today's match, with Sampras surging towards victory, Rochus tossed up a brilliantly placed lob to earn a break point. But that was swept aside by another big serve from Sampras. Rochus saved one match point but Sampras won through on the next chance.