Henman admits his best chance is gone

Tim Henman conceded tonight that his best chance of winning Wimbledon may have “come and gone” after his dreams of glory were dashed again.

The 28-year-old British number one was comprehensively beaten by Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean after their rain-delayed quarter-final match resumed on Centre Court this afternoon.

In his post-match press conference, a dejected Henman said: “Perhaps my chances are getting less but that still won’t stop me coming back and trying because this is the one tournament I desperately want to win and I have to see if I can do that.

“You have to have belief in yourself. In moments like this it’s difficult to accept but it doesn’t deter me from having belief in my abilities.”

But he added: “I don’t feel any sense of achievement. He played better than me but that doesn’t really hide my disappointment and frustration with the outcome of today’s match.”

Henman was outclassed for much of the showdown and despite re-emerging on to court to rapturous applause he failed to find the spark needed to overcome an overnight deficit.

The 14,000 fans inside Centre Court yelled encouragement at the number 10 seed after each point.

But after a total of three hours of play Henman, bidding to become the first British man for 67 years to lift the Wimbledon crown, was out of the tournament, beaten 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The fans sat up on the hill named in his honour dropped their heads. The once frequent cheers were replaced by sighs and groans.

Some fans, still sat with a Union Flag wrapped around their shoulders, could only stare in disbelief at the huge television screen.

Many had thought Henman would return victorious after he struggled during three separate rain breaks yesterday.

Paul Turner, a forklift truck driver from Blackburn, said: “It’s terrible. He’s such a great player, but he doesn’t seem to have that bite or winning streak about him.”

Mr Turner, wearing a stetson with a St George’s flag draped from the back of itadded: “He just needs more fight about him. There’s always hope but I just can’t see him ever winning Wimbledon.”

Anne Hampson, 41, an administrative assistant from Manchester, agreed.

“He’s getting on now, isn’t he?. He’s 29 next year and I think it’s just one step too far for him.

“Obviously, we hoped he’d get through but he was always going to be up against it today.”

Her friend, Kath Pope, 42, a local government officer in Manchester, said: “It’s so disappointing. We always have such high hopes for Tim and although he didn’t get through today, he’s the best we’ve got and the best we’ve had for years.”

Ladbrokes now make Henman at 10-1 to win Wimbledon next year.

It was Henman’s second quarter-final defeat at Wimbledon. In 1996 he was beaten 7-6, 7-6, 6-4 by American veteran Todd Martin.

And in 1997 he fell to German star Michael Stich 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Grosjean, 25, the number 13 seed, said after the match: “I knew when I was on the court that the people are behind him (Henman) but I try to focus on myself and play my game and that was it.”

He will now play Australian Mark Philipoussis in the semi-final after he defeated German Alexander Popp, whose mother comes from Wolverhampton, in five sets.