GREG Rusedski's temper tantrum nearly undid Oxfordshire's Tim Henman in yesterday's 'Battle of Britain' at the Australian Open.

Henman, from Weston-on-the-Green, admitted the controversy in the second set had been a "turning point" which made it tougher for him to regain control of the third-round clash.

The British No 1 won 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, but only after Rusedski had staged a stirring comeback to claim the third set.

The match was soured by a controversial line-call in the game that ended the second.

Henman, the highest surviving seed in the championship after an amazing week of upsets, had broken to lead 2-0. It went with serve to 5-3 when Rusedski at last earned himself a second break-back point.

Rusedski prepared to celebrate, only for a baseline judge not to call a Henman volley out. Rusedski dropped his racket in disgust, and went to Swiss umpire Andreas Egli to complain.

Henman took the two points he needed to go two sets up, and at the changeover, a swearing Rusedski let the umpire know what he thought.

"You should be embarrassed with yourself," he said. "I mean, that's disgusting. How can you miss that?"

Television replays showed that the ball might just have caught the back edge of the line.

Henman said: "Greg let his frustration out. In the third set he took more risks and started to return differently.

"I had 0-40 in the first game of the third, and Greg was struggling a bit mentally. But he suddenly plays a couple of quick points, holds serve - and the pressure is all on me.

"He started swinging and he played a great third set. He really dominated my serve, and I had to regroup."

Henman, who will face Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman in the fourth round, added: "I've played eight and won eight this year - but things are getting tougher and tougher."

Bjiorkman holds a 4-2 winning record in matches between the pair. Henman said: "I'm going to have to mix my serving up a little bit more because if you let him get into a rhythm, it's going to make life difficult for you."