WIMBLEDON

July 4, 2002

Tim Henman

MODERATOR: Questions for Tim.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, you know, it's another win, the most important thing obviously. I definitely give -- you know, I gave Sa a lot of credit for his game beforehand, and I certainly give him even more credit afterwards because I think he played some really good tennis, made life very difficult for me. But, as I said, it's another good one to get through.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I played -- you know, I definitely played better. I think, you know, my serving was perhaps a little more aggressive than it has been. It needed to be because it's not very quick out there by any stretch of the imagination.

TIM HENMAN: Fine, yeah, a hundred percent.

TIM HENMAN: I wouldn't quite say I was a hundred percent, but I was obviously good enough.

TIM HENMAN: Not a lot, just some things to settle my stomach.

TIM HENMAN: I'm playing okay, aren't I? I'm in the semis, so I'm obviously doing something right. I don't think I've played my best tennis. But, as I said, you know, if I can keep winning, that's the most important thing. I've played plenty of matches where I've played great and I've lost. So just keep doing my best. That's all I can do.

TIM HENMAN: I think it's slower. I think I'm not the first person to say that. I think the courts are, you know, bouncing up pretty high. But, as I said, you know, that's an element you've got to deal with, and it's the same for both the players. But perhaps the nature, you know, the way the draw has unfolded, that has something to do with it.

TIM HENMAN: It's difficult to compare from 12 months previously. But I think tennis balls in general on the tour have probably got quite a bit slower over the last few years. Yeah, this seems to be relatively heavy.

TIM HENMAN: Good question (smiling). Hopefully they'd be pleased to see me. But, no, it's certainly -- you know, I've always tried to state how much I appreciate that support, whether it's inside the stadium or outside. You know, it is a really special thing for me because when I look -- you know, when I look at my life, how that's been involved in tennis, to have been coming here for so long, and first come here when I'm five, and now be in the position where they've kind of named the hill after me, it's pretty cool. Hopefully I can keep giving them the results that they want to see.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I'd sign for that.

TIM HENMAN: That's to be expected, isn't it? I think there definitely was a little bit of anxiety, you know, just the nature of the way the second set unfolded - or the first set we played today. I felt like I was playing very, very well. I felt like I was the better player. I had the 15-40. All of a sudden things changed very, very quickly. And that's when, you know, nerves can creep into the crowd. I had to make sure that I got back on level terms, which I did, kept my nose in front, managed to scrape through the third.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I think, as I said straightaway afterwards, I'm not really interested in semifinals. The first couple of times it was probably a good achievement, but that's obviously not what I'm about now. But the only way I can get to a final is by getting to a semifinal. So I've given myself another opportunity to progress. Have to wait and see whether I can take that opportunity tomorrow.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, probably too much because at times you're going to have to play a lot of points on the baseline. I think first and foremost, there are very few people that serve and volley. As I said, the nature of the courts, it is slow, so you can't just come in on a weak approach shot, you have to be selective. You know, that is reminiscent to the way you play on clay. It's obviously not the same as playing on clay, but you still have to be patient.

TIM HENMAN: Have to win three sets, won't I? Obviously I take in a poor record, and that's clear for everyone to see. But I'll have to -- I'm going to have to play very, very well. If I play, you know, averagely, then I would have thought I'll lose. But if I raise my level and play the tennis I'm capable of, I think I can win.

TIM HENMAN: He's in the fifth set now, isn't he? So, you know, Schalken has obviously won a couple of sets. It's interesting to see the way that he's playing. Again, you know, it's much more important, I'll worry about my own performance and concentrate on the things I can control.

TIM HENMAN: He was the youngest in the front row.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I've obviously played him on a few occasions, as well - I'm not sure, three or four times maybe. I've got a better record against him. But if I were to play Schalken, then he would have beaten Hewitt, so I'm sure he would take a lot of confidence away from that. He's made the semis at Queen's, he won Rosmalen, he's through to the quarters now. As we all say, winning is good for anyone's confidence. I'm sure whoever I'll play, it's not going to be easy. It would be naive to expect that in the semis of a Slam.

TIM HENMAN: It doesn't help. It is a little bit tricky when it was so dark because I think it was difficult for everyone. It was difficult for the players, the line judges, spectators to see what was going on. You know, conditions are normally a bit easier if you're winning. When I got the first set, that was obviously a good start.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, you know.

TIM HENMAN: It's not an issue, really, is it? There's lots of things. Mobile phones. You know, it's not the end of the world. You'd prefer if they didn't go off, but I'm sure they'll keep going off for quite some time.

TIM HENMAN: It's an element of frustration, yeah. You know, apologizes again if I'm showing too much emotion on the court (smiling). But I felt like -- I don't know what the stats were, but, you know, I was creating some opportunities, and he was playing some great points. I was desperately keen to stamp my authority on the match. For periods of the third set, I wasn't able to do that.

TIM HENMAN: No, I don't think so. You know, it was a set all. It wasn't quite the Kratochvil stage. It was certainly a good feeling when I won the third set.

TIM HENMAN: I get a lot of people, you know, wishing me well, a lot of letters. But I wouldn't say that I'm in the situation really.

TIM HENMAN: I hope so. I hope so. You know, it's nice to get something back for that.

TIM HENMAN: What's that all about (laughter)? I'm trying pretty hard to win. At this level, the competition's quite tough. So when you win the point, you're pleased.

TIM HENMAN: No.

TIM HENMAN: No.

TIM HENMAN: I'd like to have a day off, yeah. But I'm sure -- well, depending on the weather tomorrow, I'm sure we'll be back on court. And it's fine. Physically I feel very, very good. I've worked hard over the last few years to make sure that I'm strong for these types of occasions. You know, I don't think fitness is going to come into it.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I suppose you'd like to see what Schalken has done to have some success. As you say, Hewitt looked very impressive, the way that he's played, the way he's come through the draw. You know, I do need to look carefully at the way I play him, because I haven't beaten him before. But right now it's probably the toughest ask in tennis, is to beat Hewitt. And he proves consistently why he's the best in the world. But that's a great challenge to have. If you want to win a tournament like this, I think you want to beat the best.

TIM HENMAN: I think they've all been pretty good, you know, chances. When you get to the semis, you're playing well. But I think, because my game has improved, therefore I'm a better player, therefore I think my chances are better.

TIM HENMAN: I'm trying my best. I'm trying my best.