Henman desperate to play conquering hero

He came, he saw but he has yet to conquer and time is running out for 29-year-old Briton Tim Henman.

He came, he saw but he has yet to conquer and time is running out for Tim Henman.

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Every year, the 29-year-old Briton steps onto the grass of the All England Club and for two weeks his football-obsessed countrymen develop a taste for tennis.

Two weeks later, Henman departs, frustratingly short of his goal and he is largely forgotten until June and July roll round again.

Four times Henman has made the semi-finals and four times he has been beaten.

With his 30th birthday approaching in September, and with defending champion Roger Federer and America's Andy Roddick threatening to carve up the tournament for the forseeable future, many see this as Henman's last chance of becoming Britain's first men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936.

"I will leave it to the media to predict the future - I will just worry about my opening match," said fifth-seed Henman who faces Spain's Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo in the first round of what will be his 11th Wimbledon.

"The big thing I've emphasised over the past few months is worrying about what I'm doing, I've got to concentrate on my own game and play the best tennis. If I do that I will have a good chance."

This time round, the British number one in the same half of the draw as Roddick and big serving Australian Mark Philippoussis, who reached last year's final.

"I know right now coming into Wimbledon I am playing as well as I have ever played," said Henman whose build-up has had observers baffled.

Having become the first British man to make the semi-finals at Roland Garros for 41 years, Henman then suffered an embarrassing first round exit at Queen's on his favoured grass.

Henman has endured a whole range of ups and downs in his Wimbledon career.

"I lost to Sampras twice when he was the best in the world, and I lost to Lleyton Hewitt when he was number one," said the Briton reflecting on three of his semi-final defeats.

"In those semi-finals, my opponent was a bit better than me on the given day on three occasions. As for Goran Ivanisevic in 2001, I played a really good match, lost my serve twice in five sets and came second."

That was a cruel year for Henman when rain came to the Croatian's rescue although at least it allowed the popular Ivanisevic to go on and claim an emotional title.

Last year, Henman lost to France's Sebastien Grosjean in the quarter-finals and the Briton insists that defeat hurt him more.

"I thought my play in the Grosjean match was rubbish," he said. "It was so much worse than my defeats in the semi-finals."

His coach Paul Annacone, who coached seven-time champion Sampras, believes Henman is still on course to win Wimbledon.

"Tim is in good shape after Paris. It's just a question of making sure his mind and body are fresh," Annacone said.

"He can definitely go all the way at Wimbledon. Paris was a breakthrough for him, a big confidence booster. His head is good and he's confident.

"In the past, Tim has perhaps been caught up in what everybody else does but now he focuses on himself."

However, not everyone is convinced by Henman's dream including former triple champion Boris Becker.

"He's not number one player in the world but he plays above his level every year when Wimbledon comes," said the German.

"On his very very best day, he's going to reach the semi-final."