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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