The nation was left holding its breath once more last night as
The nation was left holding its breath once more last night as Tim Henman’s epic Wimbledon semi-final against the Croatian Goran Ivanisevic dragged into a third day today after rain restricted them to only 51 minutes of play. The men are tied at two sets all, with Ivanisevic leading 3-2 in the fifth and final set.
The weather also ended any hope of staging the women’s singles final yesterday, which was due to follow the conclusion of Henman-Ivanisevic. That match between the holder Venus Williams of the United States and the Belgian Justine Henin was also rescheduled for today, with the men’s final postponed until tomorrow. That will give either Henman or Ivanisevic the chance to recover before taking on Pat Rafter of Australia, who by then will have been waiting for three days.Play yesterday was due to begin at 1pm, but it was 5.39pm before a ball was struck.
Henman led by two sets to one and 2-1 in the fourth set and looked as if he only need pick up where he had left off on Friday to complete victory and become the first Briton in the men’s final since Bunny Austin in 1936. But Ivanisevic had improved, and he took the fourth set on a tie-break. In the sixth game of the fifth set, with everything going with serve, the rain returned, and put Henmania on hold.Among those who had waited patiently on the Centre Court through the drizzly afternoon was the former US president Bill Clinton. So instead of Cliff Richard regaling the crowd with song, Mr Clinton enlivened proceedings by giving an impromptu interview to the BBC, which was broadcast over the public address “You know, it’s England,” he said.
“It has to rain sometime.”The wet weather came after the championships had enjoyed 11 days of virtually unbroken sunshine.. The delaying of the Wimbledon men’s final until tomorrow means that Pat Rafter, at ease in his hotel with his feet up, will not know until this afternoon who he faces, whether it will be Tim Henman or Goran Ivanisevic. In either case, a great Wimbledon final would appear to be in store. The delaying of the Wimbledon men’s final until tomorrow means that Pat Rafter, at ease in his hotel with his feet up, will not know until this afternoon who he faces, whether it will be Tim Henman or Goran Ivanisevic. In either case, a great Wimbledon final would appear to be in store.
If it’s Henman, he would be facing someone who almost plays the way he does Tim has a chipped return, Pat does the same. They both love to volley and their skill on the serve is very close If it’s Goran, you need to batten down the hatches. Goran can win any match because he is so dangerous but I find it hard to believe that someone who needed a wild card to get into Wimbledon and who has played so few matches this year can sustain another match at the highest level.
In the three other Wimbledon finals he has reached, he thought he was going to win, thought he should win, especially the last one against Sampras in 1998. So he put pressure on himself and when the crunch points came he let himself down.During the past two weeks he has removed that burden. All the television stuff about the “three Gorans” has created a fun atmosphere and he has played a lot better for it.When it comes to experience you have to hand it to Rafter in either case because he has won two US Opens and was in last year’s Wimbledon final. But if Tim is involved in the final I would go for him to win because I have said from the start this would turn out to be his year. On this very occasion, on Centre Court 12 months ago, Rafter admitted he choked against Pete Sampras in the 2000 final.
Who am I to disagree with that comment? But with Henman involved it would be a totally different atmosphere, even from last year’s final, with Henman and his great support an extra element for Rafter to deal with.It would be a very close match but I would expect Henman’s nerve to see him through, just. This may sound strange because Tim’s critics could point to his double-faults and the fact that his forehand sometimes lets him down. But that has not happened at this Wimbledon.As for Rafter, apart from Tim this likeable Aussie is the guy I would love to see win Wimbledon. He is so good for the game, one of the greatest sportsmen of all time. He knows the history of the sport, knows where his place is, what he has to do for the game.Plus the fact that his style of play is so attractive and popular with the crowds He is a no-nonsense type who tries 150 per cent every match.