World number one Justine Henin was sent crashing out of the German Open by Russia's Dinara Safina on Thursday.

The Belgian, playing only her second match following a month off, could not build on a solid start and went down 5-7 6-3 6-1.

It was Henin's first defeat on clay since losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Berlin semi-finals last year.

Ana Ivanovic, Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic are also in action later on Thursday.