Henman, who was not reluctant to make the trip to Bangkok after being assured of his

safety, has played Murray twice in the past two months and lost both times.

With his ranking slipping to No 60 in the world this week, Britain's No 2 player will be looking for a way to stop his No 16 ranked opponent, who has a perfect 3-0 record against him.

"This will be the third time in many weeks that I have to play him. He got the better of me in Cincinnati. It was a close match,'' said the 32-year-old Henman, who skipped the Davis Cup tie against Ukraine to concentrate on his schedule here.

He left the Davis Cup burden to Murray and Greg Rusedski to help Great Britain remain their status in the Europe/Africa Zone Group I level.

"He will have a tough travelling schedule after the Davis Cup. I think he will be tired,'' Henman said in a light-hearted manner after the draw at the Impact

Arena in Muang Thong Thani yesterday.

In their previous match in Cincinnati, Henman extended the 19-year-old Murray to three sets before losing 4-6 6-4 7-5. A week earlier he went down in straight sets to Murray in Toronto.

"The last time in Cincinnati he played better in crucial points. I have to play well in crucial games this time. It will be a fantastic match,'' said one of the tour's best serve and volleyers.

Twelve months ago Henman cancelled his flight to Bangkok due to injury, but had no intention of cancelling again because of the political situation.

"I called people here from home and they said everything is alright. Now I feel comfortable and would not play if I'm uncomfortable,'' said Henman, who said he is looking forward to great support from the fans during competition.

After the draw was announced, only two big-names - Lleyton Hewitt and French star Gael Minfils - had withdrawn, citing injuries.

Top seed Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia will play Spaniard Fernando Vincente, second-seed Marcos Baghdatis, who opened a clinic at the Central World Plaza yesterday, meets Frenchman Julien Benneteau and third-seeded James Blake takes on Croatian Marin Cilic.

Paradorn Srichaphan is seeded eighth and will have a tough first round match against wild card entrant Feliciano Lopez of Spain. The Thai has lost all three matches against Lopez.

Thai No 2 Danai Udomchoke has a much easier task as he will play a qualifier.

In the second qualifying round, two Thais were eliminated yesterday.

Weerapat Doakmaiklee went down to second-seeded Lars Burgsmuller of Germany 6-1 6-2 and Peerakiat Siriruethaiwattana lost to left-handed Japanese player Satoshi Iwabuchi 6-4 6-2.

Sweden's Michael Ryderstedt ousted third-seeded Go Soeda of Japan 6-4 6-1 and Russian Dmitri Sitak stunned fifth-seeded Viktor Troicki of Serbia and Montenegro 3-6 7-6 6-2.

Fourth-seeded Mischa Zverev of Germany dashed the hopes

of Andy Murray's older bro-

ther Jamie in straight sets 7-6 (7-5) 6-1, while another German, Matthias Bachinger, toppled Kazakhstan's Syrym Abdukhalikov 6-3 6-3.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation