Tim Henman feels he is in better shape than ever to finally make an indelible impression in the Australian Open.

Henman has never gone further than the fourth round in the first Grand Slam of the year in eight attempts, despite feeling his game is well suited by the conditions in Melbourne.

However, after reaching the third round with a routine victory over Romania's Victor Hanescu, the British number one is confident of ending his Australian hoodoo as he did in the French and US Opens last year.

The 30-year-old had also never gone past the fourth round in Paris or New York until surprisingly reaching the semi-finals in 2004, and is relishing the chance to maintain his 100 per cent record against Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in the last 32.

''I feel I am playing better but also mentally I feel very very comfortable and pretty relaxed about things,'' Henman said after a 7-5 6-1 6-4 victory over the world number 88. ''It's much more enjoyable.

''There has definitely been self-inflicted pressure in the past and that doesn't help anyone. It certainly doesn't help me.

''When I'm on the court, if I can keep this sort of frame of mind - and that's the majority of the way it's been over the last 12 to 15 months - I feel like I play better.

''I still can do it better. There's still times when I'm not as relaxed as I could be, but I'd like to think I can do it for longer periods.''

The manner of his performances at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows were as important as the results themselves, with Henman struggling with illness and injury respectively.

''With the result, when you've made a big breakthrough like that, it's nice to have it quantified on paper that I've been to the semi of slams outside of Wimbledon,'' added Henman.

''But it was also the nature of it.

"I obviously was not feeling my best coming into those events and that really emphasised to me that it naturally took the pressure off.

''My expectations were far less because I didn't really feel capable of competing at 100 per cent .

''I feel I've learned from that a little bit and now I do feel in good physical shape I want to make sure I maintain that attitude.''

The identity of his third round opponent will certainly help in that regard.

Both times he has played Davydenko, in Washington and Paris in 2003, he has gone on to win the tournament. The win in Paris helped Henman to his first Masters Series title.

Henman had not faced world number 88 Hanescu before, but was no doubt aware the 6ft 6in right-hander lost to Britain's Ian Flanagan, ranked 866th in the world, in the second round at Queen's last year, and a comfortable victory looked on the cards after Henman recovered from losing his serve early in the first set.

Two breaks of serve gave Henman the second set 6-1 and he seemed in total control.

Henman had been in a similarly dominant position against Cyril Saulnier in the first round before losing his way, and he let slip four chances to break in the opening game of the third set on the Vodafone Arena.

He was also forced to save three break points on his own serve to stay on level terms before finally achieving the crucial break in the ninth game.