TMS - HAMBURG

May 14, 2001

Tim Henman

ATP: Questions, please.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I am staggered. For someone that has been practicing probably better than they have ever practiced in my preparation, I couldn't have been happier; couldn't have felt better coming into the match. And I couldn't have played worse.

TIM HENMAN: I don't know. I was more worried about the -- I was trying concentrate on what I was doing and I was worried at that because I was, you know, missing and making mistakes and making him do very little. Whatever I seemed to try -- I don't think -- different even have breakpoint. I had Love-30 at 3-4 game. Then I missed a forehand in a rally, missed a couple of returns. You just can't afford to do that. But when I have been practicing for the last three days and playing sets, been structuring all the points so well and hitting the ball great, moving well and you come in a match and play as badly as that, it leaves you a little bit shocked. Not a lot I can do about it now, so I am glad at least that we got into doubles this week, so I have trying to get rid of these feelings on the match court tomorrow.

TIM HENMAN: I have been playing Calatrava -- just I mean, all the other players really and I think you can speak to them, you know, I think they would vouge I was hitting the ball pretty well. Again it just going to show you doesn't really matter what happens on the practice court, it matters what happens on the match court. It was appalling.

TIM HENMAN: No, that is an amateurish sort of excuse to have. That is certainly not what, you know, I would pinpoint. It has the ingredients for an upset, but, you know, I can only worry about my performance and that is why when you play a match like that you want to go out there and execute your shots and if you do that, you will probably win the match. The first couple of games I felt fine. I was serving well and then I am losing 8 games in a row or something.

TIM HENMAN: If I had been -- if I had been struggling with my game and, you know, hadn't been playing well for weeks and weeks then I think I would be concerned. But sometimes you talk about bad days at the office. I felt like I am talking about a horrendous day at the office but again, I think it is probably best not to dwell on it too much because I do feel when -- I think I have shown on the match court that I have been playing well enough so I am very, very disappointed. I have to give him credit because he didn't miss. He kept the ball in. He served very, very consistently. He did everything that was asked of him. And good luck to him. But I can't hide my disappointment.

TIM HENMAN: No, I didn't enjoy it. Certainly didn't enjoy my second round match too much. So yeah, I am disappointed with the way the outcome of those -- these two weeks, but try pick up with the French.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, so now I have got to try and pick it up for the French.

TIM HENMAN: Well, I tried one, but failed. I asked Bob Brett and he was -- I think he was interested in it but he is very, very busy with his academy in France, I think, and so yeah, I have tried one and that hasn't worked out. But in all honesty I haven't really -- you know I would have been really interested to try it with him but that is not possible. But I felt like I want somebody to do the job full-time. And he said he could probably manage about five weeks at the moment, but I know I just have to be patient. I don't really feel like there are too many opportunities, so if that is the case then it doesn't worry me.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah.

TIM HENMAN: Good ones are probably employed. Just have to be patient. I think as it is now, probably won't have a coach for Wimbledon, but again perhaps things will change.

TIM HENMAN: No.

TIM HENMAN: Sure.

TIM HENMAN: Sure. I have answered that question.

TIM HENMAN: Just think about my game.

TIM HENMAN: No. Nothing special.

TIM HENMAN: No, not really. Think about it myself. Get on the court tomorrow and try and put it right.

TIM HENMAN: No.

TIM HENMAN: Sure, discuss it probably briefly with them, but not be on that, I am not suddenly going to start talking to all sorts of other coaches because I don't -- I am happy to do what I am doing at the moment. Certainly probably with Fuzzy and Roger if he is around.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, that is it. I have played poorly, but I do sort of -- I just sort of feel like -- I felt so good coming into the match but didn't really show, did it?