Tim Henman showed no mercy as he gave a harsh lesson to a tennis rookie on the red clay he once struggled to master.

The British number one defeated the top scrabble score who goes by the name of Juan-Pablo Brzezicki 6-2 6-1 6-4 in as routine a first-round victory as you are likely to witness at a tennis Grand Slam.

At times it was the tennis equivalent of shooting fish in a barrel against a man who had never played an ATP Tour match before, let alone appeared in a Grand Slam.

The occasion proved too much for the Argentinian, who had been given his big chance when Henman's original opponent, Italian Potito Starace, pulled out with an ankle injury.

Henman could hardly have hoped for an easier start in his attempt to emulate last year's adventure when he proceeded to the semi-finals before losing to another Argentinian, although in that case one with a considerably superior clay-court pedigree in Guillermo Coria.

And he admitted the memories of that achievement had filled him with a warm glow on a chill and blustery day at Roland Garros on which the seventh seed was consigned to Court Seven.

''Some might say there's going to be added pressure and expectation,'' said Henman. ''But it was really a lot of fun to come here and get back into surroundings that I had so many great memories from 12 months ago. That helps.''

In the second round Henman plays Luis Horna of Peru, who he has never played before.