Tim Henman tributes

Sheddie · administrator

Tim Henman tributes

Count Zero · Tennis legend

no one has any!

my fav match is the one where boggo bt him at the mancheter exhibition, followed by the one where boggo almost bt him in thailand

TimG · Junior player

i just dont know how to tribute tim. He is a hero to many me included.

He has been an insparation to alot of people. Following british tennis is just not going to be the same. But hopefully he can go on the be involved in the game some how.

As for the best match i can remember and that summed him up would have been the match against courier in the wimbledon 4thround/quaters ( can not remember which) in which it went to five sets rediculously tense and a rollercoaster ride, But only for tim to pull through in the end.

What else can be said but legend

TimG · Junior player

come on surley all of u have some form of tribute to tim

Madeline · Admin:Moderator + Tennis Legend

I don't know where to start. I have supported Tim through thick and thin since I first heard of him in 1994; I couldn't possibly pick a favourite match (especially as I watched most of them behind a cushion!

)

It has been really sad to see him struggling so much this last year or two, and frankly it got to the point where it was so painful to watch him that I am quite glad he decided to call it a day. Gone but not forgotten.

helki · Futures qualifying

Madeline wrote:

I don't know where to start. I have supported Tim through thick and thin since I first heard of him in 1994; I couldn't possibly pick a favourite match (especially as I watched most of them behind a cushion! )

It has been really sad to see him struggling so much this last year or two, and frankly it got to the point where it was so painful to watch him that I am quite glad he decided to call it a day. Gone but not forgotten.

I'm with you Madeline, visits to the loo, no fingernails left became the norm for me when watching Tim.
BTW, I see he's pulled out of the Turbo thingy at the O2 Arena; he's become a daddy again today. smile

Another daughter, Grace, congrats to him and Lucy.

wolf · Tennis legend

I know he ended up losing it, but his 3 day 5 set classic against Ivanisovic has to my favourite match of all time.

Sheddie · administrator

My top 5 Henman matches (in no particular order):

Wimbledon 1999 rd4: bt J Courier 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-7, 9-7:
Henman had lost a 5 set thriller to Courier in the Davis Cup just months before but got revenge in a rain delayed last 16 encounter, going right down to the wire.

Wimbledon 2001 quarter-final: bt Federer 7-5, 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-6(6)
(Federer was the slight favourite for this one having knocked out Sampras in the previous round...Henman won 2 very tight sets and appeared to have it wrapped it but Federer hit top form in the 3rd and was ripping return winners and passes left, right and centre. Henman got an early break in the 4th and led 4-1...Federer levelled at 4-4...Henman came back to hold several service games from 15-40 and 0-40 before clinching it in the breaker.)

Davis Cup v Morrocco: bt El Aynaoui 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-4
(Possibly Tim's best ever Davis Cup performance, beating the Moroccan no 1 to level the tie at 2-2 on clay in a carnival atmosphere in Casablanca. El Aynaoui was in the best form of his career, he'd had that crazy Aussie Open epic against Roddick that year)

Indian Wells 2004 quarter-final: bt Andy Roddick 6-7(6), 7-6(1), 6-4
(Tim saved match points in the 2nd set on the way to his 2nd Indian Wells final, beating the reigning US Open champion and former world no 1 (he'd just been usurped by Federer)

Roland Garros 2004 rd4: bt Michael Llodra 6-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 9-7
(The quarter-final demolition of Chela in straight sets seems to be the match most people remember from Tim's amazing run to the semis that year but this was the best match for me in terms of sheer drama on a Sunday afternoon, a classic Henman nail-biter.....it was also one of those very rare sights on clay..2 players serve-volleying and rushing the net throughout. 2 sets to love down Tim appeared completely out of it against an inspired Llodra and a partisan Paris crowd but he fought back and saved several match points in the 5th before sealing an epic win.)