Heartbreak For Henman Once More Against Ivanisevic

Added on: December 2, 2010

Goran Ivanisevic re-opened old wounds on Wednesday night when he defeated Tim Henman 6-4, 5-7, 11-9 (Champions’ Tie-Break) in a repeat of the pair’s famous Wimbledon semi final of 2001.

Playing at the AEGON Masters Tennis at the world famous Royal Albert Hall, Henman and Ivanisevic were greeted onto the court by a standing ovation from a crowd eager to relive the drama and excitement of the pair’s fateful three-day Wimbledon semi final, a match that brought the former British number one to within two points of a place in the final.

Nine years on it was heartbreak once again for Henman as he struggled to find an answer to Ivanisevic’s thunderous left-handed serve. Henman found some rhythm in the second set, breaking at 6-5 with a stunning backhand lob to take the set 7-5. Ivanisevic raced into an 8-5 lead in the Champions’ Tie-Break, but Henman clawed it back before the Croatian sealed victory 11-9 with a lucky net-cord that skipped over the British player’s racquet.

Henman could not believe the quality of his opponent’s serve.

“Goran’s serve in the first set was as good as anyone’s ever served against me, and I really mean that,” said Henman. “It was phenomenal. I couldn’t get any read on it and he was just hitting the spots. If there were main Tour matches on this type of surface then that serving would be good enough against anyone.”

For a victorious Goran it was a pleasure to be back on the court against his old friend and rival.

“I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed playing tennis so much,” he said. “Today I just felt great. It was great playing Tim again and I had a nice rhythm on my serve especially in the first set. I was serving great I was moving to the ball well and everything was working. I am even serving now faster than I ever have before.”

Henman reflected on how much he is enjoying his time on the ATP Champions Tour this week.

“Goran said to me last year at the World Tour Finals in London that I should come and play on the Champions Tour and the biggest thing he said was that it was great fun,” said Henman. “I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by how fun it’s been. It really has been great.”

Ivanisevic will play Younes El Aynaoui in his final round robin match on Thursday night. A win will secure him top spot in Group C and a probable quarter final match-up with another former British Number One, Greg Rusedski.

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