Interviews
Tim Henman
Monday, September 6, 2004
Transcribed Interview
T. HENMAN/N. Kiefer
6-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-7, 3-0 (ret.)
An interview with:
TIM HENMAN
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Happy birthday.
TIM HENMAN: Thank you (smiling).
Q. So 30 is not nearly as bad as you thought it was going to be?
TIM HENMAN: I'm making some pretty slow starts in my 30s, that's for sure.
Q. That happens.
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, yeah, I'm slowing up already. But, you know, that aside,
I felt, you know, I was playing some really good tennis.
Although it was disappointing, having got back into the first
set, to lose it, you know, in my own mind I sort of told myself
I won it 6-3 because not a lot really happened those first four
games. And then, you know, I stuck with it. You know, I lost my
serve early in the second set, but I still felt very
comfortable, very confident with my style that I needed to play
against him. You know, from that point on, second set, third set
, you know, I played some pretty solid stuff.
Q. When was the last time you think you played that well?
TIM HENMAN: I played pretty well against Philippoussis at Wimbledon. But,
again, it's a different type of match. I felt that, you know,
my game plan was pretty much spot on today. You know, the
fourth set, the momentum was definitely with me. You know, I
dominated second and third sets. And then, you know, I'm trying
to take advantage of that momentum. But until you get a break,
you kind of don't have anything to show for it. That fifth game,
when I had the breakpoint and he hit the miss-hit, that was
fairly disappointing. But, again, you know, I did a good job
of just taking care of my serve. You know, it was a pretty
tight set. Didn't go my way, but I still felt, you know, if I
kept playing that way, I would get my opportunities. Again,
another really good start in the beginning of the fifth.
Obviously, finished in some pretty strange circumstances.
Q. What were your feelings at the end there?
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, it was weird. You know, the fourth set had built, and the
atmosphere was great out there. I think the level of tennis, we
were both, you know, stuck into the match. You know, another
fifth set for me. As I said, I wanted to stamp my authority
early, and I did that. You know, just really ready to continue
to knuckle down and take care of my serve once I got the break.
And all of a sudden my initial reaction after he hit the serve
was that he got a cramp in his hand, because, you know, a few
guys can suffer from that. And I just thought, you know, he got
some cramp, we were going to wait. Just, you know, when he was
talking to Per on the court, I'm sure if it was a cramp, they
would have done a little massage on his forearm and then we
would have continued. But I guess just sort of looking, I was
aware, you know, it was something else.
Q. Why do you suppose it is that you've broken new ground in two Grand Slams
this year, semifinals at the French and quarters here?
TIM HENMAN: I think mentally, you know, I've had a very different approach
in both events. I think there's no question I'm playing a lot
better. It's definitely, you know, my attitude on the court
has been more decisive, more clear in my mind, but also more
relaxed. You know, I'll continue to talk about it, it's still a
concept that I haven't quite mastered yet. But it almost seems,
you know, in simple terms, the more relaxed I can be, it's not
the less I try, but I think when I go the other way and it's
almost I'm trying too hard, then, you know, that affects my
performance in a negative way. Again, you know, it's taken to
have a bad back at the beginning of the tournament to sort of
for me to say to myself, "You know, whatever happens happens.
And if anything good happens, it's going to be a big, big bonus.
" You know, as I've said, it's turned around pretty quickly.
Q. Noticeable this year and Paris, you've come through the close matches,
at the start of the fifth set, not necessarily just today, but other days.
TIM HENMAN: Again, you could break it down. I think in the past, you know,
trying harder is not necessarily trying better. That's
something that, you know, perhaps I didn't grasp a few years
ago. And now, you know, the beginning of the fifth set, I just
said to myself, "You're playing really well, you're playing the right way. What will happen will happen." But I definitely sort of -- I feel confident that my game is going to come through a match like that today. I think it's that attitude of just not
really -- almost not reading into it too much and not
overanalyzing it, and just playing. And, again, I've said a
number of times, it's easier said than done. You know, next
match is a good test for me whether I play Hrbaty or Rochus,
it's a match that I feel like I'm the favorite. But it's
important that I have the same approach. If I go out there and
play with that expectation and put extra pressure on myself,
I'm sure it will affect my performance. If I go out there and
say, "This has been my best tournament in the States, I'm
through to the quarters, good opportunity, let's play the way
I'm capable of," then I think I've got a good chance.
Q. You said after Karlovic, you were taking quite a few low volleys as half
volleys. Are you feeling more comfortable?
TIM HENMAN: Definitely. It's inevitable, you've been out there nearly four
hours. I think everybody gets a little bit sore. But I
definitely have a lot more confidence in my movement. You know,
there were times when I was volleying well today.
Q. Was your slow start today due to your back?
TIM HENMAN: No. I think it's the acceptance I was playing as a 30-year-old,
slowly sinking in (smiling). No, I didn't get off to the best
of starts, but I didn't play my best, but I think it had more
of a part to do with him playing well, seeing well, playing
aggressive, serving better than I did. It wasn't a great start,
but I still felt I'd create some opportunities certainly over a
five-set match.
Q. Will you allow yourself a celebration, I don't know if that's the right
word, but a small sort of celebration this evening?
TIM HENMAN: I'll go out for dinner and have a few drinks, definitely.
That's the way it is most nights (smiling). I presume I play on
Wednesday.
Q. Have you got enough puff left to blow out 30 candles?
TIM HENMAN: I hope so. I'm think I'm not doing too badly with the matches
I've come through so far. I feel fine. You know, coming on today
, I felt very, very fresh. I'm sure as long as I don't have any
complications with my back, I'll be ready to go for the next
one.
Q. If you are still being paid by the hour, your bank balance must be very
healthy.
TIM HENMAN: Yes. I wish someone was listening.
Q. Are you still going to be seeing Debbie Kleinman?
TIM HENMAN: Yeah, probably. I saw her yesterday. Seems to be working pretty
well. Just keep going.
Q. (Inaudible)?
TIM HENMAN: Exactly.
Q. Is it possible to give us a couple of thoughts on each player, depending
on the outcome?
TIM HENMAN: In their own way, they're sort of not too dissimilar. I think
Hrbaty probably has the slightly bigger game. His serve's
bigger. I think Rochus comes forward a little bit more, but
certainly not a great deal. But I think Rochus has got -- you
know, he's got a lot of natural ability. I saw some of his
match against Moya. You know, hits the ball great off the
ground. He's one of those ones you feel you should get onto his
serve a little bit, but he serves pretty high percentage. So,
yeah, again, I think it's very important that I just, you know,
try and continue in the same fashion. I'm playing good tennis,
I'm playing the right way. You know, whoever I'm playing, I
think in these conditions I've got a chance. I'm not going to
change anything, whoever I play.
Q. That being on Arthur Ashe, is it a nice court to play on?
TIM HENMAN: The Ashe one, yeah, it's great. When you play on Armstrong, the
wind swirls a lot more, and that's always pretty tricky. But
there, I think on Ashe, it's pretty constant. I mean, there is
always a breeze, but you feel like you can make some educated
guesses out there.
Q. With only two Americans into the third round, some rumblings again about
the demise of US tennis, do you see it that way?
TIM HENMAN: Come and live in our country for a few years, then you won't be
complaining (smiling).
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