As Henman said: "If you come to the US Open expecting it to be quiet and people sitting still, I think you are a little bit naive."The morning was overcast, and early in the match it seemed that Henman might be about to have a day of missed opportunities. He required six break points to crack Draper's serve in the opening set, two of them in the first game. Korda, the Australian Open champion, seeded No 4, lost his opening match against Bernd Karbacher, a German qualifier, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.Mantilla, ranked No 18, is of immediate concern to Henman after winning his first-round match against the New Zealander Brett Steven, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5."My attacking game will have to be better than his defensive game," Henman said. It is our regret this incident occurred and that its subsequent interpretation by Ferrari has challenged the integrity of our team and driver. It is clear the incident was accidental and a consequence of the actions of both drivers involved who were competing in appalling weather conditions."At no time leading to the incident did David Coulthard apply the brakes or lift from the throttle, he was merely driving in a manner which would allow Michael Schumacher to pass.

The stewards concluded the accident was a racing incident."We wish to continue to compete in a sporting manner and not become involved in a protracted public discussion with Ferrari on the incident but extend an invitation to discuss the matter further in private if there is a wish to do so.". RICHIE WOODHALL, the WBC world super-middleweight champion, wants at least pounds 1m to fight the WBO title holder, Joe Calzaghe, in an all-British showdown. Woodhall makes the first defence of his title against Bristol's British middleweight champion, Glenn Catley, in Telford on Saturday, but knows that the big money will come from a clash with the Welshman, Calzaghe. "That fight should be worth a million to each of us," said Woodhall "That is what Calzaghe will also be thinking. It is at the back of my mind and is what I have got to be aiming for in the future. I have always said that I want to be a world champion and a millionaire in the process."But at the moment I cannot look too far ahead and I have got to deal with Catley first.".

ANDRE AGASSI reckons the speed of the concrete courts at the United States Open is going to hurt many of the Spanish men of clay. Tim Henman hopes this proves to be the case when he plays Felix Mantilla, of Barcelona. Henman joined Greg Rusedski in the second round yesterday after a straight- sets win against Scott Draper, the Australian left-hander who defeated Pat Rafter en route to the Stella Artois title at London's Queen's Club a week before Wimbledon. The British No 2 came off the court to discover that Petr Korda, his projected fourth-round opponent, was already out of the tournament. Given the poor visibility, the accident was unavoidable, despite Schumacher making every effort to do so."Ferrari will make no further statement about what happened and considers the incident closed.

We now look forward to a return to a climate of good relationships between the teams."McLaren replied: "It was understandable that immediately following this incident emotions were running high and incorrect conclusions reached. This shows without doubt that:"1 For almost an entire lap, Coulthard ignored the blue flags and never gave way to Schumacher, even though he had several opportunities to do so, as required by the rules."2 On several occasions Michael Schumacher moved off line to show Coulthard his car was there, before maintaining the correct gap between them, as former Formula One driver Ivan Capelli said in his live broadcast on RAI [an Italian TV station]."3 Coulthard's sudden deceleration, while on the racing line, was sudden and before he needed to do so. A public accord of some sort with Ferrari would make life more comfortable for them.Ferrari stated: "After some misleading interpretations of the dangerous accident with David Coulthard's McLaren, which led to the elimination of Michael Schumacher's Ferrari from the Belgian Grand Prix, Ferrari has once again examined all the various film and photographic evidence from the Grand Prix in Belgium. FERRARI AND McLaren- Mercedes issued conflicting communiques yesterday as the controversy over the Spa incident developed into a strategic cold war. As Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard began preparations for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sunday week, their teams were again professing they were not to blame for the collision that cost the German the championship lead and so incensed him he accused the Scot of trying to kill him. Ferrari were first off the grid with a new statement, followed later by McLaren's rejoiner. There were two of some significance at The Oval during the Test match; on Tuesday the England and Pakistan last-wicket pairs both put on 107 in the Under-19 Test match; now, at Edgbaston, David Millns and Matthew Brimson put on 109 for Leicestershire's last wicket.They had begun the day at 190 for 6 and maximum bonus points for batting were not then on the menu, especially when Ben Smith and Lewis were soon out with the score at 203. But Allan Mullally now joined Millns and put on 77 before the last pair took them to within reach of 400 and to four batting points.Millns is no mean performer with the bat and now finished one short of his fourth first-class 100.