A very British hero

It’s that time of year again at SW19 when the place comes alive with strawberries and cream, rain delays, Sharapova’s legs and McEnroe’s opinions as the whole nation suddenly takes an interest in tennis.

This year at Wimbledon though one of the staple ingredients of the British summer banquet will be missing.

Yes, I’m talking about ‘Tiger’ Tim Henman, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I will miss the presence of the Oxford-born nearly man in the draw.

Henman is remembered by some as the typical serial loser of British sport - so often he offered promise, the belief that it might actually be his year, only to crash out in dramatic circumstances.

Like the English football team he roused the public expectation time and time again only to leave us with that slightly betrayed feeling that we were seduced by his pretence as a potential champion.

But I want to thank Tim for the years he gave to British tennis.

In an era where we bemoan the lack of homegrown talent how can we complain about a man of modest ability who gave his all and adapted his game to be able to challenge anyone in the world game on the Wimbledon turf.

Four semi-finals and four-quarter finals may point to a man unable to perform when it really matters but it underlines the sheer consistency with which Henman came back again and again to the All England Tennis Club to present a real challenge in a period dominated by Pete Sampras and then Roger Federer.

Henman’s best chance to claim the trophy was in 2001 when he knocked out a young Federer and, with Sampras out of the competition, all that stood between him and a final with Pat Rafter was Goran Ivanisevic.

In typical Henman fashion it was a thrilling contest - we all remember how Tim was on the cusp of victory before the rains came and the loveable Croat fought back to claim victory and eventually win the title.

The point is I found it so easy to get behind Tim, it was exciting, at times unbearable, but you were never left in doubt that this was a man leaving nothing behind.

With Tiger Tim moving aside, we now have Andy Murray as the standard bearer of British tennis and I can’t say I’m thrilled.

It’s not that I don’t want to like the angst ridden young Scotsman but I find his ‘world against me’ attitude and taciturn demeanour have started to get to me.

I understood it when he was a fresh-faced teenager breaking into the game but his refusal to grow up off the court seems to be reflected in his game.

The thing is Murray is actually far more talented than Henman, although his game is perhaps less suited to grass, but when you compare his progress to that of Novak Djokovic since the two first broke onto the scene as gifted teenagers it is easy to see which has made greater strides.

Murray is also playing at a time when there are arguably just three real ‘world class’ players in the men’s game – Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic – and when you take them out of the equation anyone can beat anyone.

He has a great chance of winning a grand slam, perhaps in one of the hard court tournaments, if that holy trinity slip up or injuries strike.

But as yet he hasn’t shown the dedication and mental strength to make the most of his talent that will take him to the top of the game.

He has already penned an autobiography, which I have about as little intention of reading as the one produced by Cherie Blair, but what – in tennis terms – has he actually done?

Murray needs to stop focusing on the negative aspects, such as the pressure of the media, that could hold back his career and start focusing on the positives to improve his game.

I am tipping Nadal to overcome Federer this year and take his first grand slam on grass.
Federer may look so at home on grass that I’m convinced he was born in a Swiss meadow, but he has been winning purely out of habit of late and the way Nadal put him away so emphatically at Roland Garros - even if it was on clay - must have left mental scars.

I watched Nadal at Queens recently and although many were impressed by his triumph in the final over Djokovic, it was his quarter final win against the giant Ivo Karlovic that impressed me.

The 6ft 10in Croat’s serve was on top form as he banged down over 35 aces and Nadal was unable to break him in a single service game.

However, Nadal hung in there and in the final set tie break the Spaniard raised his game to another level and swept Karlovic aside.

It showed the kind of mental strength that Nadal has added to his game since he burst onto the scene as a bicep bulging, fist pumping clay court specialist.

Another youngster who can set an example to Murray as he carries a nation’s hopes on his shoulders this summer, whether he likes it or not.