05 June 2004	Saturday	16 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

PARIS, June 4: Reality bit Tim Henman on Friday. It bit him hard and it hung on for four sets as Henman's bid to become the first British French Open finalist in 67 years came to nothing.

Guillermo Coria, the world's best clay courter, used all his specialist tools to end Henman's magical run 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, 7-5. "That's the way it goes, that's sport," Henman said.

Coria was ecstatic. "What a fantastic battle," he said. "He played well, took his chances at the net and the crowd really helped him... I am really happy to be in the final."

For a set and a half - Henman had led the second set 4-2 - the impossible had seemed within grasp. History, logic, wisdom and the weather were all stacked against him but under grey skies he defied all for an hour.

Then Coria broke the spell and set up an all-Argentine final against Gaston Gaudio. Unseeded Gaudio had earlier beaten compatriot David Nalbandian 6-3, 7-6, 6-0. Both Henman and Coria were looking to reach their first Grand Slam final.

The last Argentine to play in the title match here was Guillermo Vilas - the man after whom Coria was named - in 1982. The last Briton to make it was Bunny Austin in 1937.

Henman started sensationally, sending flying forehands into the corners of the court and slicing backhands deep. He was broken in the third game but allowed Coria just one more game in that set to clinch it 6-3 in 35 minutes.

Coria was rocked, and furious. He smashed his racket into the red clay, destroying the frame before tossing it into his bag courtside. An early break in the second set put him in the driving seat and he looked to be heading towards a two-set lead before Coria struck back to break for 4-4.

Screaming to urge himself on, the Argentine held comfortably to lead 5-4 and then earned two set points on Henman's serve. He took the first, pummelling a second serve back at the Briton which was almost past Henman before he could react.

Pumping his fist and bouncing back to his seat, the Argentine had broken the spell. He held comfortably to open the third set and then broke Henman with a series of searing returns. Gurning and grimacing after every point, Coria turned the screw on the Briton, easing into a 3-0 lead as Henman pondered his tactics.

The only way to beat Coria was to throw everything at the Argentine, and that is what Henman did. Taking returns early and charging the net after his serves, he tried everything to get back into the set but Coria was too solid, too comfortable on the clay on which he grew up.

He broke again for a 4-0 lead as all the momentum swung the Argentine's way. Coria swept the set 6-0 as Henman's form dipped in the face of ferocious hitting. He was on the ropes and dropped serve again as Coria won 13 straight games.

Over the past fortnight Henman eliminated two French players but his swashbuckling style has so entertained a public weaned on baseline play that the Parisians still roared the Briton on.

There could hardly have been a more visual celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale than the sight of French fans waving the union jack flag in the stands.

Roared on by his adoptive supporters, Henman dug in. He somehow found the strength to break Coria back for 2-3 and raise a glimmer of hope for his survival. The glimmer became a reality when Henman managed to break the Argentine again for a 4-3 lead and then held for 5-3.

Coria stopped the rot but still Henman served for the set at 5-4. He faltered. Coria stayed true. He nosed 6-5 ahead and then attacked the Henman serve. Henman staved off one match point with a brave second serve but facing his second he faded a backhand long beyond the baseline.

"We're guaranteed an Argentine winner now," Coria said. "It is a childhood dream for me." Gaudio had earlier taken advantage of a below-par performance from Nalbandian to win.

"I never thought I was going to be in the final of the French Open," said Gaudio, who broke down in tears after clinching victory. "I was thinking about all the effort I made when I was young and all the dreams about winning here so that is why I was a little emotional at the end."

Friday's results (prefix number denotes seeding):

MEN'S SINGLES;

SEMIFINALS: 3-Guillermo Coria (Argentina) beat 9-Tim Henman (Britain) 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, 7-5; Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) beat 8-David Nalbandian (Argentina) 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0. -Reuters