STOCKHOLM. Nov 10: Briton Tim Henman kept his dream of reaching the tennis seasons finale alive by crushing Swede Mikael Tillstrom 6-3. 6-1 on Monday to move into the second round of the Stockholm Open. reports AFP.

Henman is duelling with compatriot and Paris Open champion Greg Rusedski and Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov for the last two spots in the eightman field for the ATP Tour World Championships in Hanover in a fortnight.

Henman, seeded third here, began smartly with a break in the second game for a 2-0 lead, thanks to a double fault from Tillstrom.

Henman made it 3-0 but then faced two break points in the fifth game saving the first with an ace but floating a backhand long on the second as his lead dropped to 3-2.

But he got his second break for 5-3 and served out the next game to take the first set in 29 minutes.

Tillstrom's form faded at the start of the second and he lost the opening game after saving one oi three break points.

Henman hammered over two aces in the second game to confirm his domination.

The Briton's shots began to tell on Tillstrom who lost his serve again in the fifth following a perfect Henman pass broke for a third time to end the match with a backhand winner.

Henman faces South African Wayne Ferreira, who defeated German Jens Knipschild 6-4. 6-2. in the second round.