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Family affairs drive on Henman, Llodra
Britain's Tim Henman and Michael Llodra of France meet on Sunday for a place in the French Open quarter-finals with family honour driving them on through Roland Garros.
Britain's Tim Henman and Michael Llodra of France meet on Sunday for a place in the French Open quarter-finals with family honour driving them on through Roland Garros.
While Llodra, enjoying his best ever run at a Grand Slam, believes he has been rejuvenated after marrying and starting a family, Henman has been shrugging off his own French legacy of discovering that his grandfather played here before the war.
The 24-year-old Llodra, ranked 94 in the world, will start as underdog against the British ninth seed, but believes recent family highs and lows will help inspire him.
"My mother died very suddenly last year and that was extremely difficult for me and for a certain span of time, I was wondering what to do with my life," said Llodra, twice an Australian Open doubles champion with countryman Fabrice Santoro.
"I had to do a bit of soul searching. It's painful. Then I got married and had a child. All of these things explain that I am more mature now and I feel much better."
Henman, the ninth seed, will be playing in the fourth round here for the first time, and has only just discovered that he is not the first from his bloodline to make an impression in Paris.
His grandfather Henry Billington made the quarter-finals here in 1939, like his grandson serving and volleying.
"I'm feeling the pressure now," smiled the Briton.
"I honestly didn't know that. I know that he made the third round at Wimbledon a few times but I didn't know he had such clay court prowess.
"I hope I can suprass his record."
Henman has met Llodra just once before.
In the second round at Wimbledon in 2003, he won in straight sets.
