Tim Henman is confident of averting an injury crisis before today's US Open second round match against Jerome Golmard.
The British number one battled to a five-set win over Ivo Karlovic on Tuesday despite a back problem which threatened to rule him out. And Henman believes he will win his fitness fight ahead of his meeting with the Frenchman at Flushing Meadows.
Henman said: "I have been assured I am doing no lasting damage by playing, so it is just a case of taking one match at a time.
"I'm pretty confident I can only feel better by the time my next match comes around.
"It is just a case of taking care of my body in the best way I can until Thursday," Henman told his official website, www.timhenman.org
Henman needed intensive treatment after his back seized up during preparations over the weekend. And his fortune in persuading the organisers to delay his first round match against Karlovic until Tuesday enabled him to avoid scratching from the competition. Henman also admitted he was fortunate to face Karlovic - a player for whom long rallies are unknown.
Henman added: "I was still a bit stiff but the fact that most of the rallies were really short helped me. I hadn't hit any balls on Sunday or Monday and I don't think I could have played on Monday."
Henman has been fortunate again to find Golmard awaiting in round two.
The Frenchman has been ravaged by injury himself with elbow problems restricting him to just seven tournaments last year.
Henman has won four of their seven previous meetings, including the last two in 2000.
Even an injury-plagued Henman ought to have enough to extend his US Open to the weekend.
