Tim Henman played out the perfect script at Wimbledon today when he
reached the third round with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory against French
qualifier Michael Llodra in just six minutes short of two hours.
The Centre Court crowd had been warmed up by the filming of a movie
called Wimbledon, based on a British winner at The Championships, before
the player charged with changing fiction into reality entered the arena.
The 10th seed, criticised for a cautious approach in his spluttering
four-set victory over Czech lucky loser Tomas Zib in the opening round, a
dopted an attacking serve and volley approach.
It suited him that he faced an equally adventurous player who gave Henman
a target to pick off with his volleys and passing shots.
An inauspicious beginning from both players, though, cooled the spectators'
enthusiasm.
Henman, the British No.1, then made the home fans edgy when he was forced
to a series of deuces before holding his serve in the fifth game.
A gap eventually opened up when Henman broke Llodra with four exquisite
passing shots to take the first set.
Henman and Llodra exchanged breaks at the start of the second set but it
was a brief wobble from the home player and he broke the Frenchman with
a superb backhand service return to take a two-set advantage.
Regular followers of Henman expect a roller-coaster ride with their hero,
but the Briton's confidence grew as he completed a swift job that did not
over-extend the troublesome shoulder that has limited his tennis this year.
Henman will take on the teenage Swedish qualifier Robin Soderling in the
third round on Saturday. It will be his third consecutive match against
a player ranked outside the world's top 130.
Written by Mike Donovan
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw)
◆ From: 61.70.206.23