|
|
|
| June 28, 2006 | Wednesday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 1, 1427 |
Wimbledon: Henman confident of beating Federer
LONDON, June 27: Britain's upbeat Tim Henman insisted he could conquer three-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer by calling the shots against the world's best player. Henman is hardened to the pressure of an expectant home crowd and said it would be a relief to be the underdog for once when he does battle with the Swiss master in the second round clash.
Despite being unseeded for the first time in a decade, Henman, a four-time semi-finalist, feels he is hitting a hot streak of form just in time to stop Federer from extending his record unbeaten run on grass to 43 matches.
“It's a fantastic opportunity,” said the world number 64.
“I'll be very, very excited. I want to go out there, go for my shots and see what happens.
“I've felt in really good shape. That's been a big part of this year. I've worked very, very hard on that. If you're talking about a favourite and an underdog, Roger will be the favourite.
“I've got to play my own game, try to create some opportunities and not let him dictate as much as he likes to do. When you get the opportunities, you've got to try and take them.”
Henman has won six of their 10 previous clashes, including their only duel on grass, when the Briton knocked the Swiss out of Wimbledon 2001.
“I'm very happy with the way I've played on grass this year,” the British number three said.
“It's been a huge improvement, and probably since 2002 I've hardly played any good matches on grass. My level of performance today is very good.
“I haven't beaten him for a while but I know my game matches up well.”The pair are good friends off the court, but Henman said there would be no sentiment when the duo do battle -- and he insisted he would not get star-struck when faced with Federer.
“I won't be approaching the match thinking about his record and how well he's played.
“I know him well, I've practiced a lot with him.
“I've played some of the very greatest players in the game. When that happens for the first time it can be a little bit of an eye-opener, a bit of a shock to the system.
“But I think the more you become accustomed, the more comfortable you feel and the easier it is just to concentrate on your game and play the ball and play the point rather than your opponent.”
Henman came through a gruelling five-set first round match Tuesday on Court One with Sweden's Robin Soderling, winning 6-7 (8/10), 6-3, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
Federer, meanwhile, breezed past Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Results:
Men (First round):
Roger Federer (SUI x1) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2; Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) bt Potito Starace (ITA) 6-0, 6-4, 6-1; Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP x24) bt Fernando Vicente (ESP) 6-1, 6-3, 6-2; Davide Sanguinetti (ITA) bt Kevin Kim (USA) 6-3, 7-6 (12/10), 6-1; Arnaud Clement (FRA) bt Albert Portas (ESP) 6-3, 6-2, 6-4; David Nalbandian (ARG x4) bt Wesley Moodie (RSA) 6-3, 6-4, 6-1; Tomas Berdych (CZE x13) bt Jan Hernych (CZE) 6-3, 6-4, 7-5; Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) bt Gael Monfils (FRA x21) 5-7, 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 6-4; Jonas Bjorkman (SWE) bt Thomas Johansson (SWE x12) 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-1; Roko Karanusic (CRO) bt Rainer Schuettler (GER) 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 6-2, 6-1; Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) bt Florent Serra (FRA) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5; Mario Ancic (CRO x7) bt Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 7-6 (7/2), 7-5, 7-6 (7/4); Kristof Vliegen (BEL x30) bt Jiri Novak (CZE) 6-4, 7-5, 6-2; Fabrice Santoro (FRA) bt Wayne Arthurs (AUS) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 3-6, 6-1; Xavier Malisse (BEL) bt Benedikt Dorsch (GER) 6-2, 7-5, 6-2; Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (TPE) bt Oliver Marach (AUT) 6-1, 7-6 (7/2), 6-0; Tim Henman (GBR) bt Robin Soderling (SWE) 6-7 (8/10), 6-3, 6-2, 1-6, 6-3; Nicolas Mahut (FRA) bt Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 6-7 (3/7), 7-5, 6-1 6-4; Novak Djokovic (SCG) bt Paul Goldstein (USA) 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3)
Women (First round):
Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL x3) bt Yuan Meng (CHN) 6-0, 6-1; Martina Hingis (SUI x12) bt Olga Savchuk (UKR) 6-2, 6-2; Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x5) bt Romina Oprandi (ITA) 6-3, 6-2; Kveta Peschke (CZE) bt Kristina Brandi (PUR) 6-3, 6-0; Zheng Jie (CHN) bt Iveta Benesova (CZE) 7-5, 6-2; Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) bt Hana Sromova (CZE) 6-4, 6-3; Tathiana Garbin (ITA) bt Katie O'Brien (GBR) 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2; Eva Birnerova (CZE) bt Sofia Arvidsson (SWE x28) 6-2, 6-4; Viktoria Kutuzova (UKR) bt Lilia Osterloh (USA) 6-4, 3-3 – retired; Daniela Hantuchova (SVK x15) bt Maria Elena Camerin (ITA) 6-4, 4-6, 6-1; Jamea Jackson (USA) bt Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 4-6, 6-4, 6-1; Akiko Morigami (JPN) bt Vera Dushevina (RUS) 1-6, 6-4, 6-2; Ai Sugiyama (JPN x18) bt Naomi Cavaday (GBR) 6-4, 7-5; Gisela Dulko (ARG x31) bt Emma Laine (FIN) 7-6 (13/11), 6-1; Li Na (CHN x27) bt Virginie Razzano (FRA) 6-2, 6-0.—Agencies
|
|
|
|
