Henman heroics keep Britain in World Group

Srichaphan routed in reverse singles as British No 1 overcomes shoulder injury to play - and win - three matches in three days

Heroic is an over-used word in sport, though not necessarily in the case of Tim Henman, whose defeats in the semi-finals at Wimbledon and disappointments elsewhere have been greeted with scorn by some of the harsher critics. But "heroic" was the adjective chosen by Sue Barker, and echoed by Roger Taylor, to encapsulate Henman's selfless performance in three matches in three days at the National Indoor Arena here to secure Britain's place in the World Group of the Davis Cup.

Paradorn Srichaphan, the Thai player who had the potential to consign Britain to the Euro/African Zone, concurred. "Tim was not just winning for his record in Davis Cup," Srichaphan said, having bowed to Henman's brilliance in the decisive singles rubber yesterday, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. "He was winning for his nation. He is heroic for everybody in his country."

We do not me mean heroic in the context of Horatio Nelson, who gave his right arm, his right eye and, finally, his life for his country. Henman only had a sore right shoulder to worry about when he arrived in Birmingham to hear that Greg Rusedski, Britain's other world-class player, had pulled out of the tie because of an injury to his left foot. But Henman said he was prepared to play three best-of-five-sets matches in as many days even though Taylor, his team captain, and a support group of physicians advised him that he had best conserve himself for Saturday's doubles.

Henman was as good as his word. Although he had to gauge his shoulder's reaction after two practice sets on Thursday before playing in the opening singles on Friday, and check his fitness on Saturday before going ahead in the doubles, and take stock again yesterday before facing Srichaphan, he not only played but won.

He took a calculated risk, gambling that an anti-inflammatory injection in the shoulder 10 days earlier, which enabled him to rehabilitate the shoulder with strengthening exercises in the hope that the tendinitis would not develop into a tear, would get him through the tie.

The outcome was glorious: not because Britain defeated Thailand's one-man band, but because Henman, whose heart for the fight has been questioned in the past, was magnificent. After tentatively feeling his way before defeating Danai Udomchoke, the Thai No 2, on Friday, and being lifted in the doubles by Miles Maclagan, a spirited brother-in-arms who until recently believed his career was past tense, Henman's form was a revelation against Srichaphan yesterday: almost as good as it gets.

Suddenly Henman was rid of the anxiety of caution. His serve was penetrating, faster than on the previous two days but sensibly geared for placement rather than unnecessary and potentially harmful power. With the confidence in his serve restored, and his mind free of the nagging concern that his shoulder might rebel, Henman's game flowed. His footwork was sharp, his volleys crisp, and his groundstrokes ripped past his opponent from an impressive variety of angles.

Srichaphan, who had injury worries of his own, the condition of his knees causing concern, said afterwards that although he was less than 100 per cent fit, he was fit enough to compete. "Tim was playing so well that I had no excuses," he added.

One of the nicest players you could possibly wish to beat, Srichaphan, the world No 31, applauded Henman's shot-making as early as the second game. Having dropped serve in the opening set in the opening singles and also in the doubles, Henman was aggressive from the start. He broke to love for 2-1, and completed the set with a second break in he ninth game, Srichaphan contributing two double-faults to his own downfall.

The match progressed in the same one-sided fashion throughout the second set, Henman breaking in the second and eighth games. There was not even a hint of trouble for Henman until he was serving at 1-1, 40-15 in the third set. Then his concentration wavered sufficiently for Srichaphan to break him for 1-2. Otherwise, his performance would have been hailed as a flawless as well as heroic.

Without further ado, Henman recovered the break in the next game, and demoralised his tiring opponent by cracking a forehand winner down the line to break for 4-2. Having served out the match to love after an hour and 42 minutes, Henman gleefully hurled his racket into the crowd and modestly, but gratefully, absorbed the praise.

His victory gave Britain a 3-1 lead and saved – or denied – Maclagan from playing in a deciding fifth rubber against Udomchoke. Instead with the tie resolved, Arvind Parmar lost to Udomchoke in the dead rubber, 6-3, 6-1. Parmar, it may be remembered, imploded after leading Giovanni Lapentti by two sets to love in the climax of the ignominious tie against Ecuador at Wimbledon in 2000. His long wait for redemption continues.

So Britain's name will go into the World Group draw on 3 October, with prospect of a first-round tie next February against one of the seeded nations: Australia (away), France (home), United States (away), Spain (away), Sweden (away), Russia (venue to be decided), Argentina (away) and Brazil or the Netherlands (venue to be decided).

All being well, Rusedski will be back as Britain attempt to win a round in the World Group for the first time since 1986. As ever, the call is for reinforcements. As Henman said: "[This tie] shows how vulnerable we are. We need a whole bunch of guys coming through. We need a doubles team, and legitimate World Group singles players in case one of us is injured. We were lucky to get away with it this time. That might not be the story in future."