Tim Henman goes out with a whimper (Agencies) Updated: 2004-07-01 08:58
Tim Henman's Wimbledon dream has crumbled in the quarter-finals for the
second successive year after he was thrashed 7-6 6-4 6-2 by unseeded Croatian
Mario Ancic.
Henman was a sorry shadow of his normal self on an overcast Centre Court on
Wednesday and his defeat left Britain still searching for its first men's
singles champion since 1936.
 Mario Ancic of
Croatia celebrates his victory over fifth seed Tim Henman of Britain in
their quarter final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London,
June 30, 2004. Ancic won the match 7-6 6-4 6-2. [Reuters] |
| Ancic,
20, made a name for himself in 2002 when he knocked out Switzerland's Roger
Federer in the first round and his huge serve and occasional baseline brilliance
was too much for the fifth seed who subsided totally in the third set.
Ancic will contest his first grand slam semi-final against either second seed
Andy Roddick or number 12 Sjeng Schalken.
Henman lost in the last eight to Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean last year but
his surprise run to the French Open semi-finals earlier this month had raised
hopes he would finally end Britain's 68-year wait for a men's champion.
 Fifth seed Tim Henman of Britain
holds his hand on his head during his quarter final match against Mario
Ancic of Croatia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, June 30,
2004. [Reuters] |
| The omens
were not ideal for Henman. The last time he faced a Croatian at Wimbledon was in
his 2001 semi-final defeat by Goran Ivanisevic.
Ancic, who earned himself the nickname 'Baby Goran' when he beat Federer two
years ago, has practised with Ivanisevic since the age of 10 and the
similarities in their games are obvious.
Despite all the talk of his big serve, a tight first set was decided by two
fine service returns from the Croatian, who is ranked 63 and yet to win a tour
title.
Croatian calm
Both players seemed tight and tense in the second set, each exchanging
service breaks gifted by double faults.
 Mario Ancic of Croatia reaches for a return
shot to fifth seed Tim Henman of Britain in their quarter-final match at
the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, June 30, 2004.
[Reuters] |
| But
Henman could not get his first serve in and, to gasps of horror on Centre Court,
netted another careless forehand to give Ancic the decisive break for 4-3.
The third set was total disaster for the Briton, who has lost four times in
the semi-finals and whose chances of emulating the last British men's winner,
Fred Perry, are diminishing every year.
 Fifth seed Tim
Henman of Britain hits a backhand return to Mario Ancic of Croatia in
their quarter final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London,
June 30, 2004. [Reuters] |
| Henman's
serve went to pieces and he quickly found himself 4-1 down.
In contrast Ancic held his nerve admirably, clinching victory on his first
match point with another heavy delivery that the man nicknamed 'Tiger Tim'
tamely backhanded long.
"I played a really good match," said Ancic, who was appearing in his first
grand slam quarter-final.
"The first set was really tough, but from the second set I began to return
better. That gave me a bit more confidence on my serve.
"From then on I was playing really good tennis and kept everything under
control. I'm very happy, I played a great match.
"I tried just to be as calm as I can be and I made it."
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