THE SCOOP, WIMBLEDON DAY 10

‘Our Timmy’: Is there a miracle in the making?

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net

While all eyes have been turned on Jennifer Capriati and whether the American star will earn the third leg of the coveted Grand Slam at Wimbledon, the men have been designing their own possible fairytales.

Here are two amazing potential storybook outcomes on the horizon for Wimbledon – Tim Henman and Goran Ivanisevic.

For the third time in his career, Tim Henman has reached the semifinals of Wimbledon – he did so with little luck of moving into the final in both 1998 and ’99. Henman earned his semifinal spot this time around with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 over Swiss Roger Federer, who conquered Pete Sampras, the King of Grass, in the fourth round.

Could this year be the year that Henman enchants the British Empire by becoming the first Englishman since Fred Perry won his third Wimbledon crown in 1936 to reign over the grass courts of SW19?

If Henman can achieve such greatness as winning Wimbledon, you can expect to see an entire nation go crazy. One wonders if the Queen will show if Henman whisks his way to the final – after all, there should be a seat in the Royal Box for Her Majesty. The only royals who have been tennis fans in recent times were the late Diana, Princess of Wales and Sarah, Duchess of York, who is divorced but still lives with Prince Andrew. But some major royals should hopefully think an occasion of this magnitude, if it happens, would be worthy of turning up to lend their support. The Queen did make the scene when Virginia Wade won the title in 1977, so it would seem only fitting that Henman gets the royal treatment, too.

Of course, Henman has been known to lose his nerve and concentration in the past, so if a special guest shows up in the Royal Box it might make matters worse for the British native son – maybe a phone call would be better?

Susan Mullane Camerawork USA, Inc.

As a semifinal opponent, Henman faces the even more intriguing Cinderella story of this Championships – Goran Ivanisevic.

Ivanisevic’s shoulder has been reported to be so bad that he has often said it was on the verge of falling off. Well, it hasn’t looked like it is falling off at this Wimbledon, where he became the first player who entered Wimbledon courtesy of a wildcard to reach the semifinals with a 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 victory over reigning U.S.Open champion Marat Safin.

It is the 29-year-old Ivanisevic that has truly offered a story to rival Capriati’s at Wimbledon this year.

A three-time finalist at Wimbledon in the past, the talk has always been that Ivanisevic’s destiny was to become the greatest player to ever play and not win a Grand Slam title. But was that a premature declaration about the Croatian – is 2001 the year that Ivanisevic’s time has come for success on the lawns he so loves?

“I’m playing the best tennis I’ve ever played at Wimbledon,” said the power-serving Ivanisevic, who had talked of retirement earlier in the year. “Now I’m in the semis which is like a dream. I’ve never been happier in my life.”
Ivanisevic, who lost in the 1992 final to Andre Agassi, and to Pete Sampras in 1994 and 1998, knows that this could be his swan song and he wants to produce an aria of breathtaking proportions.

“This is maybe the last chance for me,” he said. “Now I’ve come so far to stop will be a big disappointment. So I don’t want to stop. I want to go further.”
There could be a miracle in the making in the other half of the draw as well as with either Henman or Ivanisevic.

AGASSI TO DUEL AGAINST RAFTER
Andre Agassi could win his eighth Grand Slam trophy, but first at Wimbledon since he won his first major title in 1992. And former two-time U.S. Open champion Patrick Rafter, who underwent shoulder surgery in 1999 and had an elbow injury earlier this year, could win his first Wimbledon title if he can go one round better than last year.

Agassi, the only former Wimbledon champion remaining in the men’s draw, moved into the semifinals with a 6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 quarterfinal victory over Nicolas Escude of France.

Rafter, who has suggested that this might be his last year on tour, scored a 6-1, 6-3 7-6 win over Thomas Enqvist of Sweden to capture his semifinal berth. Rafter possesses as superb serve-and-volley game that should be a winner on grass, but his best career showing at the All England came last year when he went to the final where he lost to Sampras.

For Agassi and Rafter, it must seem like a case of déjà vu since the two have been semifinal foes at Wimbledon the past two years as well. Agassi won their 1999 encounter and Rafter retaliated with the win last year.

“Pat’s a great player and a great competitor and I’ve had some great matches against him,” he said. “Win or lose, you really cherish the opportunity to raise your level of play at the right time.”

One thing will be for sure, whichever player wins the men’s competition this coming Sunday, it won’t be any spring chicken. This Wimbledon could be considered the year that a geriatric foursome cruised to the semifinals – Henman is 26, Rafter is 28, Ivanisevic is 29 and Agassi, the granddaddy of them all, is 31.