Today at Wimbledon: Halleluiah Henman, Crafty Chela, Masterful Mahut

Our prediction that Tim Henman’s second round path would not be a smooth or quick one was vindicated on a dry afternoon on Centre Court. 14 games after the Briton and Carlos Moya returned, Henman finally overcame the clay-court specialist with an incredible 13-11 triumph in the final set.

The afternoon’s play had what everyone anticipated: nerves, which provoked a dangerously high blood pressure; timid play from both men; excitement as Henman threatened to terminate proceedings surprisingly early on; and nerves again when the match failed to end in good time – could the British number two’s 32-year-old body last this long? the crowd pondered. Moya was showing off his muscle (in the Nadal-type top) and was composed throughout the second day of play. However, the Mallorcan is a believer in grass for cows only (the GCO organisation is currently going the registration process after strong membership interest), and the 30-year-old’s physical superiority did not ultimately counter Henman’s grass court expertise.

The fifth set lasted almost two hours and Henman probably had to spend the rest of the day in the massage room, but his rest period is limited. Another Spaniard, though one who enjoys this surface, awaits on Wednesday. Feliciano Lopez, a good friend of Rafael Nadal, eased past Joshua Goodall and will be looking to repeat his 2005 performance when he reached the last eight. “Of course, he’s not in as good shape compared to previous years when he was in the top 10 but he’s still a very strong player – especially on grass,” Lopez said. The 25-year-old showed great promise in his early years as a pro, but has since failed to match his potential, and his inconsistency will spur Henman on even if Lopez will be favourite to send the home favourite out at the second round stage for the third year running.

Expect more heart problems on Wednesday and a whole new chapter in the tennis drama novel.

Elsewhere, another tight but riveting match ended with Juan Ignacio Chela triumphing against German Benjamin Becker. The Argentine is also a GCO member, but came from two sets down to prevail 10-8 in the fifth and continue his superb year which has seen him soar up the rankings. He may have passed his peak years, and rarely poses a threat to the top players, but Chela has improved greatly and his resilience has always been an extremely useful tool. Victory against the impressive Becker will inspire confidence in Chela that progress into the last sixteen is possible, and his future opponents will all acknowledge a tough match awaits against the uncompromising right-hander.

Nicolas Mahut is, probably, still having nightmares about the Queen’s final at Barons Court over a week ago, when he ought to have beaten Andy Roddick. All who watched the final will recollect his two shots straight at the American when he was stranded at the net on match point, and the rest is history. However, Frenchman Mahut prompted a smile when telling the media that qualifying for Wimbledon made up for the disappointment at Queen’s, and tonight he is wearing the smiles after a hard-fought victory against Arnaud Clement, the man he beat in the semi-finals of the Artois Tournament.

Mahut took the first set before disintegrating in the second, but then took the initiative and pulled off another excellent result. The Wimbledon crowds undoubtedly know who he is now. Mahut will want to build on the first round success and in recent weeks has looked like a player who could break into the top 50. He performed far better than all the British wildcards who have also been in the shadows for many years, anyway…

Naomi: Cavaday to remember

18-year-old Brit Naomi Cavaday, ranked 232 in the world, came into Wimbledon as an unknown but she leaves an impression after coming so close to defeating 1997 Wimbledon champion Martina Hingis on Court Two.

The court is nicknamed the “Graveyard of Champions” with the likes of Pete Sampras being knocked out there, and Cavaday came desperately close to adding her name to the exclusive list.

Three set points were saved by the teenager in the first set and she then won the tie-break emphatically, 7-1. Cavaday again broke back in the second set and then forced two match points at 5-4 on the Hingis serve, only to succumb to the inevitable nerves and throw away an opportunity for stardom and, possibly, greater opportunities in the future. However, the impressive nature of the performance will act to spur on Cavaday.

“There are loads of positives that I can take but I’m really gutted I didn’t take the match,” she commented afterwards, adding that this match will not affect her mental state despite coming so close to a major shock.

There have been few British women players to cheer about in recent years, but perhaps Cavaday can begin the rebuilding job and lead the way for a new generation of talent.

Henman: an entertainer and heart-stopper

Tim Henman’s legacy is likely to be:

“An excellent serve and volleyer who dominated on grass for a decade… yet he also was prone to never giving the adoring crowds an easy afternoon by winning any match with ease. And the ‘Grand Slam’ section of his trophy cabinet remained depressingly bare.”

Once he may have lacked the bite for a long contest and been annoyingly quiet and withdrawn, but as he enters his final years, Henman has – delightfully – become increasingly bolshy and even built-up a small layer of arrogance around his fragile body. His saving acts against Carlos Moya demonstrated his resilience and determination to still be a force on the tour, and especially on grass.

The last couple of years haven’t been easy at Wimbledon. Two years ago, he scraped past Jarkko Nieminen in five sets after being two sets down, before going out to Dmitry Tursunov in the following round, also in five. In 2006, Henman overcame Robin Soderling in five sets and then was soundly beaten by Roger Federer.

Versus Mallorcan Moya, Henman was evidently lacking in match practice and confidence. Despite taking the opening set, the Brit fell away dramatically and trailed 6-3 1-6 5-7. It looked all over for another year, or indeed forever, but Henman’s new resilience shone through as he easily took the fourth set 6-2. And from a break down in the final set, the four-time semi-finalist again recovered, and should have won the match in the final game of the evening when he earned four match points on the Moya serve. The question now is, who will the rain delay benefit?

Nasty memories of a certain Goran Ivanisevic in 2001 might make a return to the minds of those sitting on Henman Hill (Murray Mount?!), but British fans must remember Moya is in no way a grass court lover – he has appeared in SW19 just once in the last five years and is only slightly younger than Henman, at 30. Usually, fans would anticipate a Henman triumph in three or four sets, but because of a poor year riddled with injuries, expectations are far lower; something the 32-year-old will certainly appreciate.

Of course, if Henman begins slowly tomorrow, he will be waving ‘goodbye’ after just two games, but can the spirit of the occasion and the prestige of the Championships lift the ever-present British number two towards victory? All Brits, as ever, hope and believe, but a win for Henman will never come easily so expect a few more heart-stopping moments early on Tuesday, weather permitting.

Rain, rain and more rain

Starting just before 3pm means the early rainfall on Wimbledon’s opening day has been quite kind – especially with memories of the 2006 Championships flooding back, when just over 30 minutes of play was possible.

Roger Federer almost single-handedly runs the SW19 tournament, so led by example by destroying the understandably resigned Teimuraz Gabashvili in straight sets. He didn’t play the traditional warm-up event in Halle, and seemed doubly distraught when Rafael Nadal beat him comprehensively in Paris. Some have questioned his motivation to put on a show in a bid for a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title, especially after he stated, following the French Open, that if he had won at Roland Garros, there would be little for him to aim for.

Marat Safin and Andy Roddick could face the world number one before the July 8th final, potentially providing a stern test, and despite Federer’s dominance, the Swiss cannot afford to be casual. Who knows, perhaps rain will disrupt the ‘Fed Express’ in the middle of a match and end his dominance… we can all dream of a shock, anyway.

Hewitt above Roddick in the bid to end Federer’s Wimbledon domination

Andy Roddick may have won the Artois Championships, perhaps undeservedly, but the return to form on grass promises only to be fleeting. His performances in Barons Court could not be described as domineering. Roddick’s forehand was timid and is not likely to worry either Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal, nor the revitalised Lleyton Hewitt, who is steadily returning to somewhere near his peak.

There is not the same craving for a new winner in SW19 as there is at, say, Roland Garros, and it would take an exceptional player, playing exceptionally well, to overcome the masterful Federer. However, nobody likes to witness a walkthrough, and this means the search for the 25-year-old’s closest challenger has begun ahead of next week’s Wimbledon.

The Queen’s crowd were supportive of Roddick throughout, but his monotonous style means he is not an ideal winner of a major. The American is highly talented of course and, at times, a superb shot-maker, but the reliance on his serve and his lack of creativeness and initiative has substantially reduced the prospects of him winning further Grand Slams. From previous Wimbledon finals, we can see how Roddick’s game compares with Federer’s, and though the 2004 final was tight encounter, 12 months on, the gap between the pair had widened and it is impossible to envisage 24-year-old triumphing in 2007.

Hewitt has similarly struggled against Federer’s might, but his often explosive and always passionate performances push him slightly ahead of Roddick as the chief rival to the Swiss. For many, Hewitt will be second favourite, despite his injury-disrupted season and early exit at the Artois Championships. Renowned for his doggedness and shot-making, the Australian seems to be the suitable opponent for the world number one on 8 July. Whereas Federer can tear apart Roddick’s tactical plans with his vast array of shots, Hewitt is a less predictable opponent who could potentially ruffle the Basel-born star and disrupt his seemingly irrepressible style.

The final major contender is last year’s finalist, Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard recaptured the French Open but again failed to make much of an impression at Queen’s, reaching the last eight before star of the tournament Nicolas Mahut decided enough was enough. The 21-year-old made an inspiring run to the 2006 final, but he still lacks the necessary expertise to be able to regularly compete with the best grass court players and genuinely challenge for the title. Therefore, a repeat run looks improbable, but his admirable physical strength and stamina means he is still one to watch.

Much depends on the seeding arrangements, with no one wanting to be on Federer’s side of the draw. Currently, Roddick is third in the ATP Rankings – meaning a potential semi-final with Federer – while Hewitt is 19th. Others to watch out for include Fernando Gonzalez and Novak Djokovic, while Marcos Baghdatis and Andy Murray will believe they can build upon their performances at last year’s Championships.

However, the only name worth memorising is ‘Federer, Roger’. Expect a championship point to be beside his name on the second Sunday of July, and smiles to immediately follow, along with the editing of tennis’ annals once again.

Who is your tip for Wimbledon 2007? Share your views by leaving a comment below.

Bogdanovic misses his chance for glory but the future looks far brighter

Alex Bogdanovic was decisive and clinical against the might of Andy Roddick, indicating his great talent, and ought to have pulled off a major shock after taking the first set and forcing a second set tiebreak. However, despite his bold performance, Bogdanovic fell short, and will look back with regret at what could have been.

Yet the overriding emotion after the players came off court was excitement. Bogdanovic, currently ranked just outside the top 100, has for many years been labelled ‘the kid with potential’ without ever fulfilling it. At one stage his LTA funding was withdrawn because of a lack of effort or direction, and he looked to be heading the way of many other English tennis players and succumbing to mediocrity.

Against Roddick, though, the 23-year-old was buoyant and rejected any notion that nerves would affect his game. Bogdanovic consistently troubled his opponent, targeting his backhand, and was prepared to gamble throughout in a bid for his first victory against a top-ten player.

Since teaming up with Peter Lundgren, Bogdanovic’s attitude has altered dramatically. Davis Cup captain John Lloyd commented on his superior fitness levels and willingness to fight for the entire match, when before he lacked the belief to overturn deficits and was prone to throwing in the towel.

The left-hander secured a promising victory over Hyung Taik Lee – the thirteenth seed – in round one at Queen’s but perhaps his most impressive performance was against fellow Brit Jamie Baker. Bogdanovic came from a set down and demonstrated his improved resolve by winning the second set in a tiebreak before securing the win 6-3 in the third.

The awful ‘P’ word has haunted Bogdanovic for many years, but now he seems ready to compete regularly on the ATP Tour and move well inside the top 100. He must continue to work and develop with Lundgren in order to maximise his patent ability – and that could eventually mean life within the top 50.

“It was definitely the best performance of my career. I played a great match,” said Bogdanovic. “Matches like this are really going to help me get to the top. Andy said to me afterwards ‘great stuff, if you keep going like this you are going to get up there pretty soon.’”

Roddick was full of praise afterwards, “If he can play close to that consistently, Britain will have another top 40 player on their hands. Legitimately he should be top 50 by the end of 2007, that’s a very realistic goal for him. Then he can take it from there.”

British tennis desperately needs more players competing at the top, to join Andy Murray, and Bogdanovic appears best equipped to take the British number two spot – though only if he can maintain his rapid development and, ultimately, fulfil his vast potential.

Can Bogdanovic move inside the top 50 in the next 12 months? Share your views by leaving a comment below.

Brutal Nadal miles ahead of the rest, but his target is success away from the clay

Bjorn Borg retains his status as the best clay-courter for now, but there is youthful contender ready to emulate his record of six French Open titles.

Rafael Nadal is so far ahead of the competition on the orange court that only injury or extreme fatigue will dethrone him in the next couple of years. Alternatively, there might be a new prodigy on the block to threaten the Mallorcan’s primacy, but Nadal looks far too good to be denied a fourth, if not fifth, crown while still in his early twenties.

It was not a classic Roland Garros final by any means, but at least it was closer than the same match-up between the players a year ago. Roger Federer had a greater measure of his opponent and undoubtedly limited Nadal’s creativity for much of the match, resulting in tight, bitty encounter in which neither player thrilled the Philippe Chatrier crowd.

However, it was only ever going to be the 21-year-old Spaniard who would triumph as the points lengthened and his serve improved, while Federer continued to be audacious in his shot selection though to limited effect. The Swiss realises any shot that does not land near the baseline on Nadal’s forehand will be punished, and therefore took more chances than against any other opponent. He earned numerous break points – 17 in total – but spurned all-but one of them – when he went on to take the second set – and defeat was assured by Nadal’s consistency, determination, and physique.

Federer’s serve was a mess in the opening set, handing the left-hander an early psychological advantage, and his backhand was persistently weak and timid. His chances of holding all four Grand Slams at once are slimming with each year, and with the king of clay improving all the time, the 25-year-old world number one may well have to rely on a Nadal injury or wait until he is in his late twenties for a prime opportunity. Finishing his career in the same league as Pete Sampras is unquestionably something to be proud of, but there will be a lingering regret if Federer, like the American great, fails in his bid for glory at the French.

As Nadal continues his quest to become the best clay-courter ever, he must now pay special attention to the other surfaces if he is to become a true tennis great. His pumping biceps ensure he is the best at staying in long rallies in Paris, Rome or Hamburg, but success elsewhere has been limited. He reached last year’s Wimbledon final, but that achievement was not representative of his form away from the clay. America has forever been an unhappy hunting ground and despite a quarter-final appearance in Australia, his tame defeat to Fernando Gonzalez indicated the sizeable amount of work that needs to be carried out.

Nadal might take away from his clay court game by focusing on other surfaces, but it is imperative he advances in order to be fully appreciated as a skilled, adept tennis player rather than being prone to accusations of needing “construction worker arms” to succeed. With the euphoria of a third title, it will be interesting to see how Nadal performs in the extremely brief grass court season. Although keen to impress and develop, there is little pressure on him to duplicate last year’s exciting run, and that could mean an early exit in SW19. However, he begins in earnest at the Queen’s Club in Barons Court this week, certainly believing in his chances of further, unanticipated silverware.

Can Nadal enjoy success on other surfaces in 2007? Share your views by leaving a comment below.