Northstander
Well-known member
- Oct 13, 2003
- 14,036
HENMAN OUTPLAYED BY ANCIC
The hopes of a nation were dashed as Britain's Tim Henman crashed out to underdog Mario Ancic in straight sets, 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 6-2.
The Centre Court crowd were stunned into silence, as they watched their hero's chance to reach a first Grand Slam final fade throughout the course of the match.
Everyone had been warned about the 20-year-old from Split. It was only a matter of time, they said, before he made his mark at Wimbledon.
However no-one expected it to be so soon, in this round, on this court, against this opponent.
The first set could not have been tighter. Both men were in impressive form. Henman's accurately placed serves were matched by Ancic's aces. The Croatian was already into double figure before game 10.
But it wasn't only Ancic's serve that troubled Henman. His response to the Briton's well-placed shots was sometimes unnerving.
On one ocassion he responded to a low volley with an outstanding lob that ended up in the very corner of the right side of the court.
That was in game eight and, although Henman was taken to deuce, he hit his first ace to save his serve.
A brilliant passing shot by Ancic took the twelfth game to deuce. When the Croatian took the advantage, it looked like the set was in the bag.
But Henman came up with the goods to force an error from the younger man and the next two points were his, setting up a tie-break.
Too close to call, it was Ancic who took the first mini break. And although Henman saved two break points, he hit an errant return on an Ancic second serve to give the underdog the first set.
The No.5 seed did not know it then, but that was the beginning of the end of his title hopes for yet another year.
Henman's focus seemed to slip in set two and he began to make basic mistakes. He conceded the first break of the match to a double fault, but was temporarily saved when the Croat did the same.
How dejected the fans became when Henman lost his next game to love. When the the underdog held and took the set, Henman had to win the next three in a row if he wanted to reach the semi's.
But when Ancic broke him twice in the third set, there was no way back for the Brit. The Croat served for the match without conceding a point and it was the better player on the day that progressed to the semi's.
