Top tips for Henman

Former Wimbledon champions Pat Cash and Chris Evert today teamed up to give Tim Henman a double dose of advice - sort out your serve and your forehand.

The British number one crashed out of the Championships at the semi-final stage for the fourth time in five years in Friday’s three-set drubbing by all-action Australian baseliner Lleyton Hewitt.

It was a bitter disappointment for Henman - and now Cash and Evert have told him more work is needed if he is to achieve his dream of becoming Wimbledon champion.

Cash, now a media pundit, said: ‘‘Tim’s as tough as they come - but he hasn’t got the game to kill the opposition. He’s got technical weaknesses, with his serve and his forehand the two main problems.

‘‘Is he good enough to win it? This was the year - the standard of tennis was poor and what an opportunity it was. Next year’s tournament will be way, way stronger.’’

And Evert, who helps run a tennis academy now her playing days are over, added: ‘‘Tim’s serve wasn’t as dominating this year and he needs to get his top-spin forehand more consistent.

‘‘But he’s trying as hard as he can and deserves credit for that. When you look at the field in men’s tennis, the opportunity is there.

‘‘You don’t have any one player dominating any more. So can Tim do it? Yes, I think he can.’’

Cash also defended his book, released just before Wimbledon, which slated Greg Rusedski, whom he once coached.

Aussie Cash revealed on BBC Radio Five Live’s SportsWeek programme that he considered legal action against the British number two after their bust-up.

He said: ‘‘I did think about suing him and got advice from lawyers. There was a case to it.

‘‘It was one of the most horrible, stressful times of my life. I was critical of Rusedski in the book - but I was just telling the story how it was.’’