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Cool Henman unfazed by expectation
Tim Henman once again kept his legion of fans on tenterhooks for more than three hours on Centre Court before reaching the quarter-finals.
Tim Henman once again kept his legion of fans on tenterhooks for more than three hours on Centre Court before reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the eighth time on Monday.
The Briton finally outfought Mark Philippoussis 6-2 7-5 6-7 7-6 to avenge his fourth round loss to the Australian in 2000.
"It got to the fourth set and I was just hoping to keep the viewing figures as high as possible," he laughed.
"Look, there's so many important points there, sure you are going to be tight. We were both tight.
"There was a lot of tension ... I am aware of it, I can feel it in the crowd but the only thing I can control is what I am going to do."
Henman handled the nerves and the weight of expectation and sees the victory as a great stepping stone.
"It's a continuation of all the work I've been putting in," the 29-year-old said.
"That's what you put all the practice in for. We both played some great tennis but there's always going to be one winner and one loser.
"I felt it was going to be straightforward because i know how he's going to play.
"I felt I was seeing the ball well and picking up his serve ... plus, it helps when you make a start like that.
"It was good quality tennis. You don't need to read any more into it than that.
"For the first two sets I took my opportunities, and was very dominant on my own serve ... you know, I took care of my own service games.
"In the third set it got to the tiebreak and I lost it. It really was as simple as that."
Henman said he was unfazed by the annual weight of public expectation on him at this time of the year.
Four times a semi-finalist here, he has never reached the final and is bidding to become the first British men's champion in 68 years.
"I can't let that bother me ... all I can control is my own expectations and they are high. I expect a lot of myself because I am a good player," he said.
"I am very pleased with my performance tonight. I am going to enjoy this one for a couple of hours but my expectations have not changed."
