Henman beats sickness in epic fightback

No 4 seed overcomes stomach problem and recovers from two sets to one deficit to beat Kratochvil and move into quarter-finals

Wimbledon should supply the 14,000 Centre Court spectators with smelling salts tomorrow before Tim Henman plays Andre Sa, of Brazil, in the men's singles quarter-finals. A consignment for viewers of the big screen on "Henman Hill" is also advisable.

Experience will no doubt alert Henman to the possibility of an attack of the vapours among his immediate family, particularly his pregnant wife, Lucy, and he knows that a crisp, consistent match performance is the best preventative measure.

Without wishing to spread alarm, anybody tempted to peddle an analogy with England versus Brazil at football ought to be warned that Sa, a 25-year-old ranked No 90 in the world, is from Belo Horizonte, the scene of England's embarrassing 1-0 defeat by the United States in the 1950 World Cup.

That said, there is unlikely to be any sign of complacency, on or off the court, in view of the fourth-seeded Henman's narrow escape against Michel Kratochvil, of Switzerland, in their fourth-round contest on Court One yesterday. On this occasion, Henman, debilitated by a stomach upset, was the one given smelling salts when two sets to one down. He came off his chair to prevail, 7-6, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, after four hours and 13 minutes.

Henman's decision to take a percentage of pace off his serve in favour of consistency and placement is fine as long as his deliveries still hurt his opponents at crucial moments. Against Kratochvil, a talented, all-court player, ranked No 45 and rising, Henman's policy was severely tested. It was his good fortune that his opponent double-faulted 17 times and contributed 57 assorted unforced errors to his own downfall.

"I can't quite understand how I won that match," Henman said, "because at two sets to one and 2-1 down in the fourth, I was out of there. But somehow the good old crowd got me going again. I could hear them inside the court and I could hear then encouraging me outside the court. I just kept fighting for every single point."

His tenacity enabled him to win the final set after losing the opening two games. After breaking back for 1-2, Henman began to serve with greater authority and hit volleys and groundstrokes with élan. Kratochvil twice had treatment to a cut knee, but he was now clearly second best in the majority of the rallies, many of them breathtaking. Henman broke for 3-2 and 5-2 and served the match out on his second match point.

A pattern emerged at 3-2 in the opening set, when Kratochvil had served three double-faults and still managed to hold, saving three break points. Henman did not have a chance of converting the first opportunity, Kratochvil hitting an unreturnable serve. Henman netted a forehand approach shot on the second chance and mis-hit a backhand long on the third.

To compound Henman's frustration, Kratochvil broke immediately for 4-3, passing Henman with a forehand cross-court return to create the break point, and then converting with a backhand drive. Fortunately for Henman, his opponent's tendency to double-fault kept the set alive. Serving at 5-4, Kratochvil squandered his chances with three more doubles, and the set progressed to a tie-break, which Henman took 7-5 after Kratochvil had recovered parity after serving another double-fault to give Henman a 2-1 lead.

So, after 59 minutes, Henman was in the driving seat, but without a safety belt. His serve was under pressure in the fourth game, Kratochvil passing him with a forehand for 15-40. Henman produced a winning serve on the first break point, and Kratochvil hit a backhand wide on the second.

Henman lobbed Kratochvil for 0-30 when the Swiss was serving at 4-4, and then hit a winning return for 15-40. On the first break point, Henman's forehand return landed long, and Kratochvil found the baseline with a forehand drive to salvage the second.

Although Henman created a third break point, passing Kratochvil with a forehand down the line, the Swiss rescued himself with a backhand volley, denying Henman the opportunity to be serving for the set at 5-4, and a possible two sets lead.

Instead, Henman served to stay in the set. He achieved that, and then had his opponent in trouble again at 30-40 in the 11th game. Kratochvil, growing accustomed to these perils, whisked the break point away with a backhand pass.

The second tie-break was swifter. Henman lost his serve twice in succession, beaten by a forehand return for 2-4 and netting a forehand to 2-5. Kratochvil went on the clinch the shoot-out, 7-2, finishing with an ace.

Henman won the opening three games of the third set ­ thanks, in no small part, to Kratochvil gifting him the second game by double-faulting at 30-40. By now, dark clouds began to block out the light on Court One and, with Henman leading, 4-1, and Kratochvil at advantage, rained interrupted play for an hour and 57 minutes.

When the match resumed, Kratochvil not only held for 2-4, but stunned Henman's supporters by breaking in the next game, holding to level the set, and then turning the set on its head. Henman lost his serve for 4-5, and Kratochvil served out the set, finishing with a Henman-style backhand volley.

It was then, two hours and 45 minutes into the match, that spectators became aware the Henman was not only struggling with his game. Bill Norris, an ATP trainer, was called to the court and gave Henman smelling salts and massaged his legs before the start of the fourth set. Henman's play continued to wobble, and he was broken for 1-2 before Norris made a second appearance. Henman recovered the break for 4-2, thanks to four unforced errors by his opponent. Norris returned to the court a third time, with tablets.

The drama switched to Kratochvil's court. As Henman gathered himself to stay in the match, Kratochvil's errors increased. Henman pounced with a magnificent forehand cross-court return to break for 5-3, and served out the set for the loss of only one more point.

Although the sun took its time returning, it eventually smiled on Henman.