Oxfordshire tennis star Tim Henman reached the third round of the Australian Open today with victory over Czech Radek Stepanek in four sets.

The British No 1, again cheered on by a vocal set of supporters at Melbourne Park, outclassed the frustrated world No 45 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 with another comprehensive display of serve-volley tennis.

Henman dropped the second set after failing to convert any of five break points in the last game. But he was in charge for long periods of the match, particularly on his own serve, and remained focused as Stepanek repeatedly questioned close line calls.

The victory - Henman's second in as many meetings over Stepanek - was sealed with a flurry of thrilling tennis in the final set as he booked a third-round clash with the dangerous unseeded Argentinian Guillermo Canas.

"I got off to a really good start," Henman said. "I felt in the first set and a half I was dictating a lot of the play and to a certain extent, dominating the match.

"At the end of the second set he started to play much better. He served better and took the initiative away from me a little bit.

"We had a tight game at 5-4 in the second set but it didn't go my way.

"That said, I still felt very confident and comfortable about the way I was playing. To then go and win the third and fourth sets three and love was very good for my confidence."

World No 3 Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Italian Filippo Volandri 6-4, 7-6 (7/5,) 7-5, while Lleyton Hewitt saw off Karol Kucera 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.

In-form Argentinian David Nalbandian continued his impressive run of form with a 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Germany's Florian Mayer.

Kim Clijsters and Venus Williams reached the third round of the women's singles with straight sets victories.