Madness, they say, is doing the same thing again and again
expecting different results. If this is true, then every year we
Brits indulge in a form of collective madness. We build up the
chances of ‘Tiger’ Tim Henman until we hit fever pitch.
We’ve done it for a while now and every time it ends the
same way; bitter disappointment and tears on ‘Henman
Hill’. This year, though, Cherwell does think things will be
different and here’s why (in rational, sane steps). It’s always said, but Henman really is one of the few
players who was born to play on grass. If his serve fires there
are few better sights in the game than him following it in to the
net and dispatching a volley with nonchalant ease. The Swiss
defending champion, Roger Federer, aside there aren’t many
serve-volleyers left and being a comfortable net rusher is such
an advantage on SW19’s quick, grass courts. The crowd, too, provide Henman with a great advantage. Far
from folding under the pressure he revels in the attention. The
atmosphere a Henman run at Wimbledon creates is like nothing else
and might just propel him over the finishing line when all else
deserts him. Henman’s always had a great serve-volley game and the
support of the crowd though. If we’re not to be labelled mad
there needs to be something different this time, something that
makes us believe again. Tim probably never thought he’d find answers on the dusty
courts of Roland Garros but that’s what he’s done this
week. In reaching the French Open semi-final (at least) he’s
proved he can cut it even when the odds are stacked against him.
In recovering (twice) from two sets to love down he’s shown
a mental toughness that we might not have seen before.
Wimbledon’s courts are getting harder and dustier by the
year and the winner, as Federer proved, needs an all-court game.
It’s Henman’s improvement in this
‘department’ that gives us cause for hope. Oh, and England are going to win Euro 2004. Beating Germany in
the final. On penalties.ARCHIVE: 5th week TT 2004
Side Lines
