It has long been a source of mystery and amusement on the circuit that throughout

It has long been a source of mystery and amusement on the circuit that throughout the wilderness years of British tennis the country's media still kept an army of tennis correspondents covering the world's major events.What these journalists will be less keen for people to know is that most of them (including this writer) started the year with the feeling that Henman would do well to survive in the top 50. Reaching No 25 in October after his semi-final appearance in Ostrava was regarded as the product of a newcomer's run of form, and it was felt that once the top players learned to play the new Brit on the block, things would turn sour.Henman's confounding not just of his critics but even of some of his admirers is consistent with the way he has risen to every challenge. In September, 1994, he broke his foot in three places in a match in Singapore and was out of action for four months, but he used the time off to work on his fitness. At Wimbledon '95 he had the humiliating experience of being defaulted after belting a ball in anger which struck a ballgirl.

There were those who felt his punishment was a case of the establishment putting a young upstart in his place, but despite considerable anguish bordering on tears, he faced the media to explain that the punishment was just and he had to accept it.His refusal to make use of excuses - often quite legitimate ones - is also a mark of his strength of character. During a match against Jared Palmer at the 1995 US Open, he stubbed his toe reaching for a wide ball at 3-3 in the third set (the match was 1-1 in sets) and lost his way for a couple of games which proved to be crucial to the outcome. Afterwards he refused to blame the incident, dismissing it as "insignificant", but to those watching it was anything but. In Sydney last week, he could have used jetlag as an excuse for a couple of loose first sets, but again declined to do so.The factor that probably made most people doubtful of his ability to stay with the world's best was his lack of a big shot, but over the last 18 months he has worked hard on his serve and now regularly hits 10 aces in a match.

The serve is particularly important because it gives him a number of "free points" which can make a difference in a close match. He has also worked on his forehand, and his tactical awareness is improving constantly.This all reflects great credit on David Felgate, his coach, mentor and a source of tactical acumen. But perhaps Henman's greatest asset is his ability to win the points that really matter, and with tennis's scoring system you don't have to win every point, only the important ones.The vagaries of the ranking system mean it will now become harder for him to rise further up the list. He has points coming off his tally in the coming weeks from his semi-final appearances in Shanghai, Rotterdam and Copenhagen a year ago, but if he can do well in his next three tournaments (in Dubai, Antwerp and Milan) and then win a round or two at one of the big events in Indian Wells or Key Biscayne in March, he could find himself celebrating Easter as the first British man to make it into the world's top 10.. IT IS always dangerous to suggest that a player's number is up, especially when the player concerned is only 25 years old, but yesterday's shocking result at the Australian Open which saw the women's No 2 seed, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, beaten by Dominique van Roost might spell the end of the road for the Spaniard as a serious force in women's tennis She, of course, did not think so. "I've had a bad loss, but that happens, I'm not going to be disappointed at all - this is a sport, this is the way it is," the apparently philosophical Sanchez said after losing 1-6, 6-4, 8-6 to the Belgian, who is ranked 43rd in the world. The reality, though, is that this might well have been her last real shot at winning a fourth Grand Slam. Despite her great "rivalry" with Steffi Graf, the German has won 28 of their 36 meetings - including their two great matches of the past 18 months, the 1995 Wimbledon and the 1996 French Open finals - and the truth is that it is only when Graf is off colour that Sanchez has a chance.Her record against Monica Seles is no better.

They have yet to play since Seles' return from her 27-month absence following her stabbing, but the record shows 13 of the 14 matches have gone to Seles And then there is the new kid on the block. Martina Hingis beat Sanchez in three sets at last year's US Open and again in Germany five weeks later, suggesting the days when Sanchez goes in as favourite - or even an equal - with the 16-year-old Swiss are over.This Australian Open, though, was the tournament Sanchez could have won. Graf is troubled by back problems and possibly also worries over the impending verdict in her father's long- running tax evasion trial, Seles is absent with the after-effects of a broken finger, and Hingis is still only 16. It should have been a situation made for the bouncing bumble bee from Barcelona.Yet Sanchez has never been quite the same after her 10-8 final set defeat against Graf at Roland Garros on 8 June last year. After her two losses against Hingis she took three weeks off, did not touch a racquet, and just lounged on the beach.

She returned to the circuit in November looking fresh, but the effect has clearly worn off - she lost early in Sydney last week, and has now crashed out of the Australian Open in the third round, her earliest exit from a Grand Slam tournament since 1992.While van Roost played well - she is on a roll having won the WTA Tour event in Tasmania last week - Sanchez should never have let her get anywhere near winning. After taking the first set 6-1, the Spaniard was in full control, but she let her grip slip. She led 5-2 in the final set but still could not finish it.Her strokes lacked punch, her forehand looked a liability, and it is hard to see her making any impression on Graf, Seles, Hingis and co unless she can build a new dimension into her game - and it may be too late for that. Perhaps her best chance to add another Grand Slam title is at Wimbledon where she has at least mastered the grass. But Graf claims the lawns as her favourite surface, and Hingis was Wimbledon junior champion at 13, so there is not that much hope there.Even if Sanchez does fail to win another major, her achievements will still show two French Opens, one US Open and a short spell as world No 1.

Posted by admin. Filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.