WITH his tanned complexion and patchy stubble, Tim Henman looked like a clay-courter of Latin extraction during last year's French Open. In becoming the first Britain to make the semi-finals of the tournament for 41 years, he played like one too.

But, while last year's successes have convinced the 30-year-old that he has the requisite array of shots to succeed on his least-favoured surface, they may also work against him in the next two weeks.

Where he was once left out of the equation at Roland Garros, he is now being touted as a potential champion. Nobody will be under-estimating him this year.

"I like watching him on clay, he befuddles the clay-court players," said three-time Wimbledon winner John McEnroe, who provides a level-headed counterbalance to the more emotive excesses of 'Henmania' in his role as a pundit on British TV.

"He's not as good a player as Andre Agassi or Roger Federer. He doesn't have the speed and power of Agassi and he doesn't have the shots of Federer.

"But he has developed his game to the point where, if everything falls into place, maybe he can take advantage of it. But it would still take a lot for him to win the tournament."

Maybe, but there were times in last year's French Open when he looked capable of doing just that.

His third-round win over Galo Blanco forced the Spaniard to admit that Henman could "win Roland Garros for sure", while his comprehensive quarter-final victory over clay-court specialist Juan-Ignacio Chela was as polished as anything he has produced at Wimbledon.

Guillermo Coria proved too good in the last four but, after years of consistent failure on clay, the British number one finally seemed to have found a game-plan that enabled him to hold his own on the strength-sapping surface.

It was based around a strong first serve and more aggressive ground strokes that enabled him to take an early initiative in rallies, opening up the court for him to punch volleys from the net.

The ploy had a novelty value, as clay-courters are not used to being bullied from the front of the court. It remains to be seen whether it will be as effective second time around.

"In Paris, you have more options tactically," revealed Henman, who starts the tournament as seventh seed. "Chipping and charging is a big part of my game.

"I know my game is in good shape. Physically, I feel 100 per cent better than I did this time last year so I want to try and build on that.

"I'm looking forward to getting started in Paris. I'm sure there are going to be a lot of good memories from last year. That guarantees me nothing, but I'm looking forward to the challenge again."

Last year's charge at least helped to banish the unjustified impression of Henman as a one tournament a year man. The British public's peculiar relationship with tennis means he will always be top of the bill for two weeks every year and largely invisible for the rest but, 12 months ago, he was showered with the kind of praise his efforts have largely failed to garner.

The absence of that praise in the past clearly rankles with a player who has carried British tennis on his own shoulders for much of the last decade. While Henman's fragile temperament has prevented him from joining the pantheon of true greats, the dearth of talent behind him means we had better start appreciating his technique and tenacity before it is too late.

That might not be as long as some people think - Henman has already started to talk more openly about his retirement - which is why every Grand Slam takes on even greater importance as time goes on.

This year's French Open will start later today when Henman takes on Argentine lucky loser Juan Pablo Brzezicki after Italian Potito Starace pulled out with a twisted ankle. Brzezicki is world-ranked 147.

"The only thing I know about him is that his name is tricky to write," Henman said. "Apart from that he is a total stranger to me."

The draw has not been particularly kind to Henman, as he is scheduled for a third-round re-match with Chela before a potential quarter-final with Federer.

As with any tournament, the Swiss star will start as favourite, although he is expected to receive stiff competition from rising Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal.

Nadal will celebrate his 19th birthday on Friday week and, leaving aside Henman's ambitions, it would be a major disappointment if the occasion were not marked with a potentially epic semi-final against Federer.

The youngster has won five tournaments since the start of the year to Federer's six, and the pair look ready to embark on a personal duel that could illuminate the men's game for many years to come.

The women's game is less head-to-head and more country-to-country. Serena Williams' withdrawal from the tournament with an ankle injury means that American ambitions are likely to rest in the capable hands of her sister Venus and current world number one Lindsay Davenport.

The power base is shifting, though, and last year's French Open underlined where the new hegemony lies. Anastasia Myskina became the first Russian female to win a Grand Slam singles title in Paris last year and, with the likes of Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova following in her wake, tennis' Russian revolution shows no signs of slowing.

The only other potential superpower is Belgium and in either the fit-again Justine Henin-Hardenne or the newly refreshed Kim Clijsters, France's neighbour could yet be celebrating more success at the start of next month.