Back problems plague Henman as he makes first-round exit

The former British number one was defeated by Argentinian Juan Ignacio Chela 6-4 3-6 6-3 - a second straight first-round reverse.

Fall Guy: Tim Henman tumbles as he loses 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to Juan Ignacio Chela in the first round of the Cincinnati Masters

Henman, who exited the first round of the Legg Mason Classic two weeks ago, said: "I'm coming on to hard courts and struggling with my back again.

"That's been an issue for quite some time. It's just the constant pounding on the courts.

"You feel like you're playing in pain most of the time.

"Playing on the hard courts, it's always going to be pretty tough on the body. And, you know, I've done it for a few years."

The first set went against Henman 6-4 but the British number two forced a break in the fourth game of the second set to move 3-1 up.

Chela broke straight back but Henman did likewise in the sixth game to make it 4-2 and held in game seven to put himself in charge.

Chela held but Henman then successfully served out to love to win the set 6-3.

He had a break point on the Chela serve in the first game of the third set but the Argentinian held.

The next opportunity presented itself to Chela in the eighth game and he took it to move 5-3 up and he promptly served out for the match.

The defeat meant Henman, beaten in the first round of this tournament last year by Andy Murray, has still only won three ATP Tour matches all year.

He explained: "In the early part of in the third set, I had break points in the first game.

"I would have liked to have got one of those, and that would have probably given me more momentum."

The 32-year-old claimed he needs to turn in a longer run next week in New Haven in order to prepare physically for the US Open, which starts August 27.

He said: "It would help - but I think I've played enough matches in my career to know what I can and can't do and should and shouldn't be doing. We'll just see how it goes.

"It's not getting any easier - I appreciate I'm nearer the end of my career than the start.

"But I still have the tournaments coming up - the US Open and the Davis Cup. Those obviously are going to be a big priority."