Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Henman takes a step closer to final glory

British No 1's enthralling Centre Court victory over Federer sets up semi-final showdown with Ivanisevic

John Roberts
Thursday 05 July 2001 00:00 BST
Comments

For the third time in his career, Tim Henman is one match away from becoming Britain's first men's singles finalist since Bunny Austin was defeated by Don Budge in 1938, when the magnificent American was on his way to accomplishing tennis' first grand slam. We had best digest that before even daring to think that the 26-year-old from Oxfordshire is on course to become the nation's first men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936 following his four-sets victory over Roger Federer in the quarter-finals here yesterday.

Such dreams have crashed before. On Henman's two previous visits to the semi-finals, in 1998 and 1999, he was defeated by Pete Sampras, the most prolific grass-court champion the modern game has known. Tomorrow he faces one of Wimbledon's most famous bridesmaids, Goran Ivanisevic, who lost two finals against Sampras and his first, an agonisingly close contest, to Andre Agassi in 1992.

Ivanisevic, who had to receive a wild card even to get through the gates two weeks ago, has built up such a head of steam that many observers believe that his left-handed serve is virtually as unplayable as it was when he last terrorised the courts three years ago.

Having swept aside the challenge of Britain's Greg Rusedski in the fourth round, Ivanisevic dealt almost as severely with the Russian Marat Safin yesterday. Henman, however, has won his previous four matches against Ivanisevic, although the only time they played on grass was at Queen's Club and tomorrow will be their first encounter in a Grand Slam tournament.

Henman, the sixth seed, will not allow himself to be intimidated, and if he can return serve fast enough and with sufficient accuracy he could find himself playing Agassi or Pat Rafter in Sunday's final.

Certainly Henman's form was impressive yesterday against Federer, the 19-year-old Swiss 15th seed who had eliminated Sampras in five sets in his first contest on the Centre Court and demonstrated again that he is a champion in the making. Henman kept him at bay for the time being, winning 7-5, 7-6, 2-6, 7-6.

A foretaste of how tight the contest would become was to be seen in the opening eight games. Henman broke first for 2-1 after 11 minutes, converting the break point with a low backhand service return. Federer levelled for 4-4 after 31 minutes, Henman saving the first of two break points but beaten on the second by his opponent's splendid backhand drive down the line. The backhand was to become one of Federer's specialities in the match, but Henman asserted himself to break for 6-5 with a forehand drive and served the set out to love after 44 minutes.

The spectators warmed to this early lead. "Come on Tim!'' one supporter shouted. "Come on everybody!'' cried another. Henman, while calm when making his shots, quickly became irritated by the ringing of mobile phones, and more than once the umpire told the crowd to switch them off.

The next set proceeded with serve and when it came to a tie-break both players had opportunities. Henman led 3-1, only to be pulled back to 3-3 after netting a backhand, and Federer pumped his fist after a mini-break for 4-3 was followed by an ace and a backhand volley, which had him showing his confidence again by clenching a fist at 6-3. Faced with three set points to save, Henman served well enough to wipe away two, and then cracked Federer with a backhand return. The Swiss questioned whether Henman's shot was out , but there was no doubting the validity of the Briton's next two shots, a forehand lob for 7-6 and a service winner to secure the set.

So, after an hour and 32 minutes, Henman's supporters had reason to believe that their man had one foot in the semi-finals. No sooner had Henman held to 15 in the opening game of the third set than one over-optimistic supporter shouted: "Come on, Timmy, you're going to win Wimbledon!'' Though the encouragement was well intended and Henman may not even have heard it, the British hero proceeded to lose five games in a row. He halted the slide, holding to love for 2-5, but Federer, looking confident and more sure of himself with every blow, served out to set everybody in the arena on edge.

"There was a lot of pressure out there and I was tight as a drum," Henman said afterwards. "The first two sets I played pretty much faultless tennis and I suppose it was inevitable I'd have a little dip."

Henman, while not subduing his opponent at any stage, regained the initiative by breaking for 3-1 in the fourth set. In that game he tormented Federer with another superbly struck lob on the first point and delivered a smash as a follow-up to a deep volley for 30-40. Federer then missed a corner of the court with a forehand drive.

The tension quickly mounted again in the fifth game, which went on for eight minutes and during which Henman had to save four break points. He dug the hole for himself with consecutive double faults to 15-40, serving away the first break point, delivering an unstoppable second serve to deuce, only to be tested again by one of Federer's cross-court returns. Henman salvaged the third break point with a superb low backhand half-volley which left his opponent with little option but to strike a backhand long. Federer was not done, however, creating a fourth break point with a service return which not only beat his opponent but caused him to slip while trying to change direction. Henman, unhurt, saved himself with a forehand drive and held the game with a backhand pass and a smash.

During the changeover Federer took a three-minute medical time-out to receive massage to his strained left thigh, and the crowd passed the time with a hearty Mexican wave.

When play resumed, Henman created two break points for a 5-1 lead, which would have left him serving for the match in high spirits. Not only was Federer able to save them and hold for 2-4, but he proceeded to put his opponent on the rack. Henman had to save three break points in the next game and was broken to 30 when serving for the match at 5-3. The determined Federer deservedly took the set to a tie-break.

Henman recovered from 2-5 down in the shoot-out. He then had his first match point at 6-5, only to be denied by a forehand return. At 6-6 Federer snatched at a return and this time missed it and Henman lured him into hitting a backhand long on the second match point.

Henman said: "There is a lot of satisfaction in getting the job done." Looking ahead to the semi-finals, he added: "In all honesty it is nice I am not playing Sampras. It is not going to be easy against Goran, but I go into it with a good record against him."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in