The arrival of Paul Annacone as coach has given the British No1 a different on-court strategy and despite his problems with a mystery virus that required the ECG check and the on-going icing of the right shoulder that needed surgery last year, there are reasons to believe Henman is capable of reaching the French Open fourth round for the first time.
To achieve that he must account for Spain's Galo Blanco tomorrow and Henman said: "My attitude has changed and that's happened over the last nine months. I do feel more relaxed on court, more comfortable and confident in what I am trying to do. If it works and I win that's great - if I try and play the right way and lose then so be it." That attitude will serve Henman well both here in Paris and for Wimbledon.
Henman believes a series of events have put him in this frame of mind. He added: "It's an accumulation of things and being a father certainly puts things in perspective. Winning my first Masters event in Paris last year was also important along with Paul's (Annacone's) impact on the style of play that's helping me."
Meanwhile, Justine Henin-Hardenne looked pale and sluggish as she had her French Open title ripped from her grasp after suffering the earliest defeat of a women's top seed in nearly 80 years of grand slam's history.
The Belgian world No1 has been laid low by viral infection for several weeks and, after going out 7-5, 6-4 to Italian Tathiana Garbin she said: "I was really nervous. I was not moving well. I was late all the time and I couldn't play my game.
"It is really frustrating. It is hard to come back like this but it's okay, life continues. It was my bad day and her great day."
