Top seed Tim Henman finally won a match at the Madrid Masters on Wednesday, producing a classy display to beat Spain's Albert Costa 6-4, 6-2 and reach the third round.
The Briton, who had lost his two previous contests in the Spanish capital, moved 5-1 ahead in the first set and took it after a minor wobble.
Costa held his opening service game in the second set but Henman's greater consistency took him to victory in one hour 25 minutes.
"I don't think I was particularly focused on each and every point but I managed to close out that first set and I felt like my confidence grew after that," said Henman, who had a bye through to the second round.
Fifth-seeded Chilean Nicolas Massu lost 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to American Taylor Dent in the tournament's biggest upset.
Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan secured a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Spaniard Alex Corretja to book a third-round match against fourth seed David Nalbandian.
Henman will face Ivan Ljubicic, who defeated Germany's Rainer Schuettler 6-3, 6-0. The Briton has only beaten the big- serving Croatian once in three matches.
Henman broke Costa twice early in the match to move 3-0 ahead as the former French Open champion's weak serve offered easy pickings.
Henman extended his lead to 5-1 before his concentration wavered and, boosted by an enthusiastic home crowd, Costa regained his nerve to claw back three games.
Serving for the set for the second time, Henman regained his focus, and after saving a break point produced an elegant forehand winner, which wrong-footed his opponent.
The Briton, who is ranked fifth in the world but has been out for nearly a month with back and shoulder injuries, started the second set in attacking mood.
Costa netted a simple volley in game three to hand Henman his first break and the British number one broke again before serving out for the match.
