Tim Henman blew his big chance to end the year on a high in Paris yesterday, going down in straight sets to Julien Boutter and losing his chance of automatic qualification for the Masters Series Cup in Sydney.

The world's leading eight players in the ATP Champions Race will gather Down Under later this year to contest the new season-ending tournament. And with six places already taken, Henman was one of several others still in with a shout of claiming one of the remaining two spots.

But the British No 1 from Oxfordshire lost 6-4, 6-3 in the second round of the Masters Series in Paris to an inspired Boutter, who mixed unwilting power with finesse to defy his lowly world ranking.

Henman said afterwards: "I found it very difficult to have any influence in the match.

"It's all really up to him the way he plays. He's so aggressive, so powerful with his shots. On his serve, you're just trying to do your best to get the ball back in play and see what happens.

"But today I was hoping for him to give me more opportunities. After I didn't take the first one, he was too good for me."