Top British player Tim Henman conquered Swiss teenager Roger Federer in a tough four-set match at Wimbledon on Wednesday, advancing to the semi-finals for the third time in four years. After more than three hours of gruelling play, Tim finally took the match in a thrilling fourth-set tie break, eight points to six.
“I’ve certainly been in some tight situations,” Tim said after leaving Centre Court. “But I don’t think I’ve played a match that felt as close as that was in the fourth set.”
He continues his quest for Wimbledon glory on Friday afternoon when he faces unseeded Croatian Goran Ivanisevic. Sizing up his chances, Tim says, “It will – as always with grass court tennis at this level of tournament – boil down to a few points here and there. It’s my job to try and take them.”
“I’ve got a good record against Goran,” he added. “Hopefully I can continue that.”
And Tim is not the only one who is hoping. Britain hasn’t seen a home-town Wimbledon champion since Fred Perry in 1936. “Talk about pressure, that’s 60-some years,” says the right-handed player. “In England, the fans are so hungry for a winner. Every year they get excited about it. It’s a special part of the fortnight.”
Some fans are already convinced that this year belongs to Tim. Despite losing on July 3 in each of the past four years, sparking talk of superstition, this year the Brit defeated American Todd Martin on the fateful day.
He has made it to the semis at Wimbledon on two previous occasions, and hopes to move on to the finals where he will face either Andre Agassi or Aussie Patrick Rafter.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
