Hewitt's punch flattens Henman

Tim Henman's Wimbledon dream was crushed for another year yesterday by Lleyton Hewitt, Australia's world No 1, who lived up to his reputation as the finest player in the game and promises to win the title from the baseline in the manner of Andre Agassi 10 years ago.

Frankly, Henman was outclassed. He did his best against a player at the top of his game, and need feel no shame after losing 7-5, 6-1, 7-5. "The better player won, no question," the fourth-seeded Henman said. "He played phenomenally well. It's not through lack of effort, but my game wasn't good enough today."

As had been suspected, Hewitt's counter-punching style proved difficult for the British No 1 to break down without serving with enough pace and accuracy to win some free points and bring his volleying skills into play. Although Henman's serve was fairly consistent it was not consistently damaging, and Hewitt was able to settle into his swift-moving style and take control of the match.

"I think if you serve and volley against Hewitt in these type of conditions, unless you ace him, it's probably a negative," Henman said. "You're playing to his biggest strengths: his return of serve, and, after his return of serve, his passing shots. The tactic that is most effective against him, even on grass, is to stay at the baseline and give him no pace to work with. When you get half an opportunity, you go for it. You either make a mistake or you hit a winner."

Having seen Hewitt torment Pete Sampras in the United States Open final last September, your correspondent considers the Australian's performance yesterday to be the finest of his career.

Henman is bound to feel deflated for a day or two. After all, this was his fourth semi-final defeat. Sampras had denied him twice, and the astonishing Goran Ivanisevic frustrated him between rain delays last year. Ivanisevic went on to win the title, and, though it will be no consolation to Henman, Hewitt will take some stopping in tomorrow's final.

"Every Australian kid who picks up a tennis racket dreams of being in this situation," he said. "For me to have it at the age of 21 is incredible." Hewitt could also imagine how the 27-year-old Henman was feeling. "It's got to hurt him after making another semi-final," he said, "but he's had an incredible run over the last four or five years here, and he's got the perfect game to win Wimbledon."

Hewitt, apparently oblivious to the volume of support for his opponent, started confidently. He dropped only one point in his first two service games, and that was a double-fault.

Henman was twice taken to 30 on his serve, but Hewitt was the first to have to fend off break points, in the fifth game. When Henman's serve was tested, at 3-4, he saved the first break point with a 119mph serve, only to hit a forehand long to offer Hewitt a second chance. Henman hit a 110mph second serve with enough spin to salvage that situation, but was then trapped by a Hewitt forehand to the baseline. On the third break point, Hewitt lobbed from the baseline. Henman may have wondered if Hewitt's shot would land long. It did not, and Henman belted a forehand over the baseline.

Surprisingly, Hewitt wavered when serving for the set at 5-4. He double-faulted to 0-30, and then netted a backhand after Henman returned his serve on the next point. Hewitt missed his first serve on the first of the three break points, Henman pounced with a backhand return.

Henman, serving at 5-6, was unable to stretch the set to a tie-break. Hewitt made sure of that, taking the first three points brilliantly with a lob, a backhand cross-court pass, and a forehand pass. Although Henman saved the first set point with a second serve, Hewitt converted the second, attacking Henman's serve with a forehand return across the court.

Dark clouds gathered again as Henman showed signs of wilting early in the second set, netting a forehand to lose his serve, and slumping to 0-3 as Hewitt held to take his fifth game in a row. It seemed that rain, which cursed Henman against Ivanisevic 12 months ago, might now act as an ally.

Play was suspended for 55 minutes, but Henman was only able to hold serve once before Hewitt steam-rollered on.

A net cord helped Hewitt's backhand on its way down the line as he broke for 5-1, although, in any case, the shot deserved to land good. The Australian then served the set out to love.

Henman endeavoured to make the third set competitive, but his cause was not helped when he double-faulted for the first time in the match to lose his serve in the third game. Hewitt had treated us to a magical shot at 30-30, sending an astonishing backhand down the line from wide of the court.

Hewitt, the accuracy of his ground strokes drawing admiration from even the staunchest, beflagged Henman followers, continued to move steadily towards victory.

The Briton's most impressive moments came when Hewitt served for the match. For the first time since the opening set, the Australian appeared to feel nerves, which was not surprising given that this was his first Wimbledon semi-final.

Henman managed to break after luring the Australian into netting a forehand, but he was unable to sustain his comeback further. He was broken in the 11th game, Hewitt hoisting a wonderful lob on his second break point, and watching as his opponent scampered after it all the way to the back stop. The end came in emphatic fashion, Hewitt delivering an ace on his first match point.

If he continues in this vein we shall be hailing him along with the likes of Frank Sedgman, Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Pat Cash, and the other Wimbledon champions from "down under". And Henman? "I'm always going to give it my best shot," he said. "As soon as I don't enter the tournament, then you'll know that I don't believe I can win any more."